Slavic Gods & Goddesses

Fairies, Spirits and Minor Deities

Bannik Bereginy Bolotnyi Dogoda Domawiczka Domovoi Dvorovoi Eretik Kikimora Kurinyi Bog Leszi Lesovik a Lugovik Musail !vinnik "olewik "oludnica "olunocnica "oluvirica #arog #usalka $reasurer %odonoi &ampyr &ila 'altys Bannik (BAHN-neek) Bat ouse spirit( Slavic )at ouses were like saunas wit an inner steaming room and an outer room *or c anging( $ ey were dark and *rig tening and like many scary places, were considered per*ect *or divinations($ ey were also t e place most o*ten used *or c ild+)earing( ,o new)orn was le*t t ere long, t oug , lest t e *airies w ould steal im( ,o - ristian icons were allowed in t e )at ouse, neit er, as t ey may o**end t e it.s true occupant + t e Bannik( /t was customary in some places to o**er every t ird *iring o* t e sauna, or sometimes t e *ourt to t e Bannik( !ne did not want to distur) im w ile )at ing, t oug , or e mig t 0ust t row ot water on t em( !t er times e would use is s arp claws to *lay is victim alive( Besides a *iring o* t e sauna, e liked o**erings o* soap, *ir )ranc es, and a water( $ e Bannik usually takes on t e appearance o* a mem)er or *riend o* t e *amily1 so i* you ever see someone you know in t e )at room, and *ind out later t at t ey weren.t t ere((((((( Bereginy - Bginki in Polish (boo-GIN-kee2 $raditionally 3covens3 o* old women per*ormed t e rituals and sacri*ices *or t ese river )ank nymp s( B4ginki means 3little 5oddess3( $ ey were said to steal uman )a)ies and leave )e ind c angelings called !dmience in "olis , !)orotni in #ussian( $ ese spirits were t e original spirits o* li*e and predate t e sky deities( $ ey are t e *orerunners o* t e #usalki( Bolo nyi - Bagnica in Polish (bahg-N!!"S-ah) *rom 3)oloto3 or 3)agnu3 + swamp( Female )og spirit #ogoda (doh-G$H-da) $ e gentle &est wind( #o%a&ic'ka (#oh-%ah-(!!")H-kah) *emale Domovoi or wi*e o* t e Domovoi( May )e t e same as t e Kikimora( $ ere are very *ew reports on t is spirit, )ut t ey usually involve er rewarding anyone w o )at es or *inds er )a)y( #o%ovoi - #o%o&i*e in Polish (doh-%oh-(!!-yeh) Male ouse spirits *rom 3domu3 + ome( $ e Domovik usually lives in t e attic, )e ind t e stove, under t e t res old or in t e sta)les or cattle )arn( 6e is t oug t to )e responsi)le *or all domestic prosperity and tran7uility and *inis c ores w en *amily mem)ers *orget( 6e will owl and moan to warn o* approac ing trou)le, and pull air to warn a woman in danger o* a)use *rom a man( 6e can )e eard laug ing i* good times are a ead, and i* you ear im strumming a com), t ere is a wedding in t e *uture( $ e Domovoi s ould )e *ed nig tly or e may cause trou)le, muc like a poltiergeist( 8sually, i* neglected, e will simply leave( $o attract a domovoi, put on your *inest clot ing, go outside and say 3Dedus ka Do)rok ot 9grand*at er well+wis er2, come live wit us and tend t e *locks(3

Special care was taken to only o)tain pets and *arm animals in t e Domovoi.s *avorite color( Eac new orse was introduced *ormally to t e Domovoi *or t e spirit took especially good care o* t e animals e liked )ut tormented t e ones e didn.t( & en a new ouse was )uilt, t e owner would put a piece o* )read down )e*ore t e stove went in, to attract t e domovoi( & en a person moved, t e coals *rom t e stove were taken wit t em and t e *ormal invitation 3Domovoi, Domovoi, don.t stay ere( -ome wit our *amily3 was recited to ensure t at t e Domovoi came along to t e new ome( Salted )read, wrapped in a w ite clot will appease t e domovoi as will putting clean w ite linen in is *avorite room + an invitation to eat wit t e *amily( :ou can also ang your old s oes in t e yard to )rig ten t e Domovik.s mood( $ e domovik usually resem)les a male ead o* ouse old, living or dead( $ is supports t e )elie* t at t e Domovik is a remnant *rom t e times o* ancestral wors ip( 6e can )e seen i* you view im t roug a arrow or orse collar( !t erwise, i* e s ows imsel*, it is usually to warn o* deat ( 6e, like t e Bans ee, can )e eard weeping w en deat approac es a mem)er o* t e ouse old( #vorovoi - +,ssian Male yard spirits *rom 3dvor3 + yard( Like t e domovoi, e usually resem)les t e male ead o* ouse old and as pre*erences as to t e color o* pets and livestock( 6e is usually malicious and sometimes, )ut not o*ten, deadly( 6e is appeased )y placing a s iny o)0ect, slice o* )read and piece o* s eep.s wool in t e sta)les w ile saying 3Master Dvorovik, / o**er you t is gi*t in gratitude( "lease look a*ter t e cattle and *eed t em well(3 /* e is completely out o* control e is punis ed in t e *ollowing way; $ e ead o* ouse old wove a t ree+tailed w ip *rom a corpse.s s roud, dipped it in wa<, ingnited it and w ipped all corners o* t e cattle s ed and manger, oping to )eat t e spirit into su)mission( !re ik - (!H-reh- eek)- eres ,n- ere ica- ere nik. 3 eretic3 $ is later term *or t e upyr is due to t e )elie* t at eretics returned *rom t e dead as evil spirits( $ is )elie* was considered responsi)le *or t e )rutality and ysteria surrounding t e medieval #ussian campaign against eretics( $ e eretik usually returns *rom t e grave to devour people, t e eretsun is usually a living vampire created w en t e soul o* a sorceror possesses and revives t e )ody o* one on t e )rink o* deat ( $ e eretica usually causes one to wit er )y t e power o* er eye( $ e eyes o* t e dead, in Slavic )elie*, could lure one into t e grave( $ at is w y it was so important to close t e eyes o* t e newly deceased( /iki%ora(kee-kee-0$H+-ah) or Shishi%ora *emale ouse spirit w o usually lives in t e cellar or )e ind t e stove( S e comes out at nig t to spin and will look a*ter t e ousework and t e c ickens i* t e ome is well tended( /* t e ouse old is a sloppy one s e will wine, w istle and tickle t e c ildren at nig t( S e is sometimes married to t e domovik( $o appease an angry Kikimora, you s ould was all your pots and pans in a *ern tea( S e appears as an average woman wit air down 9Slavic women always kept t eir eads covered2 or sometimes wit c icken *eet( S e would occasionally appear, spinning, to one a)out to die( /,rinyi bog(k,r-!!N-yee book) 3- icken 5od3( 8sually a round *ieldstone wit a ole in t e middle in t e c icken yard( $ is 3deity3 was supposed to protect c ickens *rom t e domovoi, kikimora and dvorovoi( 1es'i- 1eshii (1!SH-ee) 3Forest lord3( From 3les3 + *orest( 6e o*ten appeared as a peasant, eit er wit out a )elt or wit

s oes on t e wrong *eet( Sometimes e was said to ave wings and a tail and )e covered in )lack air( Many assigned im goat.s ooves and orns like "an( 6e is usually attri)uted wit green eyes( 6e could c ange is size *rom t at o* a )lade o* grass to t at o* t e ig est tree( 8sually e carried a clu) to s ow is rulers ip over t e *orest creatures( $ e Leszi could take t e s ape o* a *amiliar person and lead you astray wit t e sound o* t eir voice( !nce in is domain, e mig t tickle is victim to deat ( 6e could also )ecome a are, wol*, )ear, raven, pig, orse, rooster, *laming *ir tree or even a mus room( $ e Les i is *ond o* trees and is said to )e eard weeping w en one is cut down( 6e is t e protector o* t e *orest and all it.s creatures( 6is *avorite animal is t e wol* + t e king o* t e )easts in Slavic *olklore( 6e is also said to )e o*ten seen in t e company o* )ears( 8pon entering a *orest, one always uttered a protective spell or prayer lest t ey run into im( /* e got old o* a c ild, e mig t replace it wit one o* is own + w o would grow up stupid, wit a voracious appetite( /* t e c ild returned it would ever a*terward )e a useless tramp( & en t e Les ii got is ands on an adult, t e adult would return sometimes mute and covered wit moss, ot ertimes una)le to concentrate and would act oddly *or t e rest o* t eir lives( $ e Les ii likes o**erings o* kas a, suet, )lini, )read = salt( 6e is also per*ectly appy wit a cookie or candy le*t on a stump or log( $o protect yoursel* against t e les ii, you can; turn all your clot ing )ackward and also t e collar on your orse, c ant 3S eep.s mug, s eep.s wool3 or i* you encounter im, get im to laug ( & en t e les y could )e coa<ed to )e*riend a uman, t e uman o*ten ad to make a pact, never again wear a cross or take t e euc arist( /n return, t e Les y would teac t e uman t e secrets o* magic( 6e is, a*ter all, t e 5reen Man( /n myt and art, t e Les y is o*ten associated wit t e psyc otropic mus room >manita Muscaria( $ is may connect im in some way to S amanic mind+altering tec ni7ues( 1esovikha - (1eh-soh-(!!-kah) Female Leszi( Sometimes an ugly woman wit large )reasts, sometimes a naked young girl + or a woman in w ite as tall as t e trees( 1,govik - (loo-G$H-veek) Spirit o* t e meadow( 3lugo3 + meadow( 6e s ould not )e con*used wit t e spirit o* t e grain *ield( 0,sail $ e *orest tsar, king o* t e *orest spirits( 6e was associated wit t e #owan tree( $vinnik - ($h-(!!N-neek) +,ssian Barn spirit *rom 3!vin3 + t res ing )arn( $ e Slavic t res ing )arn was a ? story )uilding wit a *urnace entrenc ed in eart on t e *irst *loor and t e second *loor *or drying t e grain( /t was ruled )y t e !vinnik w o appeared as a uge dis eveled )lack cat wit )urning eyes( :ou could sometimes ear im laug ing or )arking like a dog *rom t e corner o* t e )arn in w ic e lived( !**erings o* )lini or t e last s ea* were le*t to im(/* angered, e was known to )urn down t e )arn, usually wit it.s owner or owner.s c ildren in it( Pole&ik- Polevoi (2oh-1!H-veek) Field spirit *rom 3pole3 + *ield( 6e appears as a de*ormed dwar* wit grass *or air and two di**erently colored eyes( 6e usually wears eit er all w ite or all )lack and appears at noon or sunset( 6e will lead astray people w o wander in t e *ields, and i* t ey *all asleep t ere, give t em diseases or ride over t em wit is orse( /* a person *alls asleep drunk w ile on t e 0o), t e "olewik mig t kill t em( $o appease t e "olewik you must put two eggs and a rooster too old to

crow in a ditc w en no one is looking( Pol,dnica - Pse'2olnica in Serbian (2oh-&ood-N!!"-sah) Lady Midday, *rom 3"oluden3 + noon( S e may appear as a @?+yr old girl, a )eauti*ul woman or an old ag )ut is only seen at t e ottest part o* a summer.s day( S e is known to steal c ildren or lead t em astray in t e *ields and #ussian mot ers t reaten t eir c ildren wit 3Be good or t e "oludnica will get you( S e sometimes pulls t e air o* *arm workers or attacks women w o ave 0ust given )irt and wander out at noontime( S e carries a scyt e and will stop people in t e *ield to eit er ask di**icult 7uestions or engage t em in conversation( /* t e person *ails to answer a 7uestion or tries to c ange t e su)0ect o* t e conversation, t e "oludnica will strike t em wit illness or cut o** t eir ead 9"oland2( $ e &ends, 5erman Slavs, called er pscipolnitsa and pictured er as carrying s ears, a sym)ol o* deat ( & en not in t e *ields or streets, t e "oludnica was said to *loat on t e winds( Mari0a 5im)utas calls er 3sunstroke3 personi*ied( /t is t oug t t at t e "oludnica was t e e<planation *or t e dangers o* working in t e noon eat and remained a part o* more recent legend )ecause o* er use*ulness in scaring c ildren away *rom valua)le crops( Pol,nocnica - (Poh-&oo-nok-N!!"-sah) 3lady midnig t3( > 3demon3 said to torment c ildren in t e middle o* t e nig t( May ave originally )een t e t ird 'orya o* midnig t Pol,virica - (Poh-&oo-vee-+!!"-sa) 3*emale al*+)eliever3( $ is *orest spirit pro)a)ly ad an earlier name )ut was later called poluvirica due to t e )elie* t at non+- ristians returned a*ter deat as various ome and *orest spirits( S e appears naked, wit a long *ace, long anging )reasts and t ree )raids o* air down er )ack( S e is usually seen carrying a c ild( +arog - (+AH-rook) Polish- +arich - 3kranian- +arach - )'ech( $ is same word *or w irlwind may )e a late )astardization o* t e name Swarog( > *alcon, awk or *iery dwar* w o turns imsel* into a w irlwind( From Lusitania to t e 8rals it was customary to t row a kni*e into a w irlwind to kill t e demon residing wit in it( /nto t is century, Blugarians, "omeranians and #ussians were still )eing o)served casting t emselves *ace down )e*ore a w irlwind to ward o** illness and mis*ortune( #ussians w ould do so s outing 3a )elt around your neck3 in order to strangle t e rarog( +,salka (roo-SAH4-kah) Female water Spirit( $ ese souls o* un)a)tized )a)ies or drowned maidens )ecame )eauti*ul pale girls wit long *lowing air( $ ey wear w ite or are sometimes naked, usually wit poppies in t eir air( $ ey lived in t e waters during t e winter, )ut moved to t e *orests and *ields during #usal.naia week 9 ence t e name2 w ere t ey could o*ten )e seen perc ed in trees( > danger to umans, t e #usalki may lead cattle astray, steal c ildren, *all upon people *rom t e treetops and tickle t em to deat or kidnap young lads to take as lovers( $ ey love to come out in t e moonlig t to sing and dance t e k orovod 9circle dance2( /* t ey *ind someone )at ing near w ere t ey dance, o*ten, t ey will drown t em( $ying ri))ons to trees in w ic t ey were known to perc is one way to appease t em( Linens and scarves, as well as eggs were also le*t as o**erings( Be*ore t ese nature spirits were associated wit t e souls o* t e 3unclean3 dead, it is )elieved t ey were t e spirits w o )roug t moisture to *orest and *ield(

"reas,rers pozemne vile + 3eart spirits3( / ave not seen t e Slavic name *or t ese creatures anyw ere + )ut in "olis t e word *or gnome is 3karzelek3 9kar+'E6+lek2 w ic t ese creatures most resem)le( -alled pc uvus i )y t e gypsies, t ey live in mines and underground workings and are t e guardians o* precious metals, gems = crystals( $ ey are most o*ten elp*ul toward miners and will lead t em to ric veins o* ore, protect t em *rom danger and lead t em )ack w en t ey are lost( $o evil persons or t ose w o insult t em t ey can )e deadly and ave )een known to send tunnels cras ing down upon t em or pus t em into dark c asms( & istling, urling rocks into dark c asms and uncovering one.s ead are actions considered o**ensive to t e $reasurer( 6e will, owever, warn t e o**ender once )e*ore taking action( Small insults warrant a pelting wit and*uls o* soil( Larger insults are usually repayed wit a )eating wit t e $reasurer.s cudgel or t e *or*eit o* all t e metals mined t at day( $ ey sometimes appear as small naked c ildren, as uman miners, as glimmers o* lig t or as salt people( Most o*ten, t oug , t ey appear as adults o* smaller stature, usually a)out ? + A *eet in eig t, carrying mining lanterns( 4a%2yr - 32yr %ampires ave *eatured in t e legends o* all Eastern Europe( $ e Kas u)ian region on t e Baltic coast o* "oland s ows records o* an e<ceptionally ig )elie* in %ampires( >s recently as t e ?Bt century,attempts were made in "uck and Kartuzy to e< ume vampires and render t em armless( "eople o* ig *acial colour or an e<cita)le nature were supposed to cool slowly on deat ,retaining a red comple<ion and *le<i)le lim)s, ence t e e<pression 3-zerwony 0ak wieszczy3,red as a vampire( %ampires are t e souls o* t e dead( $ eir p ysical )ody does not usually leave t e grave( $ eir victims are t eir own *amily mem)ers w om t ey visit, one at time to drain t eir li*e.s *orce( & en t at *amily mem)er is dead, t ey move onto t e ne<t( /n t is manner was evidence o* vampire activity discovered( Mem)ers o* a single *amily would )egin to die, one )y one( /* t e &ampyr ad no relatives,t ey would pull on t e c urc )ell,signalling deat *or all t at eard it( !nce a vampire was detected, t e *irst *amily mem)ers to pass on in t e string o* deat s were e< umed( /* one was *ound to )e in e<traordinarily good s ape, various remedies could )e used against t em; $ ey mig t )e cut up and t eir )ones re+arranged( > cruci*i< was o*ten placed under t e tongue and sometimes a *is ing net or a )ag o* sand was placed in t e co**in( !nly one grain o* sand could )e removed eac year,or one knot undone,keeping t e vampire away *or a very long time( >ccording to Dion Fortune + a )rilliant occultist + t e 3soul )ody3 lives on *or a)out A days a*ter t e deat o* t e p ysical )ody, t en it dies also, *orcing t e remaining essence o* t e person to go on( /* t e person is knowledged in t e occult, t ey may c oose to remain on eart )y latc ing onto a uman victim w o is weak or morally corrupt( $ roug t is victim t ey a)sor) t e li*e.s energy o* ot ers( $aking )lood is one met od o* doing t is( $ ey cannot take t e li*e.s *orce o* t eir victim, as e would die, so t ey possess im and *orce im to take t e )lood o* ot ers( (((0ust somet ing to t ink a)out( 8pyr were originally spirits o* deat and predate t e sky gods( 9muc o* t e in*ormation on "olis vampirism was e+mailed to me, t e aut or was unknown + so no credit could )e given2 4ila- (ily- (ile- (eles in 1i h,anian ((!!-lah) Female *airy+like spirits w o live in t e wilderness and sometimes clouds( $ ey were )elieved to )e t e spirits o* women w o ad )een *rivolous in t eir li*etimes and now *loated )etween ere

and t e a*terli*e( $ ey sometimes appear as t e swans, snakes, orses, *alcons, or wolves t at t ey can s apes i*t into )ut usually appear as )eauti*ul maidens, naked or dressed in w ite wit long *lowing air( /t is said t at i* even one o* t ese airs is plucked, t e &ila will die, or )e *orced to c ange )ack to er true s ape(> uman may gain t e control o* a &ila )y stealing *eat ers *rom er wings(!nce s e gets t em )ack, owever, s e will disappear( $ e voices o* t e &ila are as )eauti*ul as t ey, and one w o ears t em loses all t oug ts o* *ood, drink or sleep, sometimes *or days( Despite t eir *eminine c arms, owever, t e &ila are *ierce warriors( $ e eart is said to s ake w en t ey do )attle( $ ey ave ealing and prop etic powers and are sometimes willing to elp mankind( !t er times t ey lure young men to dance wit t em, w ic according to t eir mood can )e a very good orvery )ad t ing *or t e lad( $ ey ride on orses or deer w en t ey unt wit t eir )ows and arrows and will kill any man w o de*ies t em or )reaks is word( Fairy rings o* deep t ick grass are le*t w ere t ey ave danced w ic s ould never )e trod upon 9)ad luck2( !**erings *or &ila consist o* round cakes, ri))ons, *res *ruits and vegeta)les or *lowers le*t at sacred trees and wells and at *airy caves( "he (odonoi - 4d*ano* in Polish (vohd-5AH-noy) Male water spirits *rom 3&oda3 + water( Master s ape+s i*ters, t ey sometimes appear as old men wit long green or w ite )eards, sometimes as creatures wit uge toes, claws, orns, a tail and )urning eyes in a uman *ace( >t times t ey look like *at old )ald men and ot er times like mossy looking *is or *lying tree trunks( /* e takes on uman *orm, you will know im )y t e water oozing *rom t e le*t side o* is coat( %odonoi are said to live in underwater palaces made *rom t e treasures *rom sunken s ips and o*ten marry #ussalki( $ ey are usually malicious and are )elieved to lie in wait *or uman victims and drag t em under t e water to t eir deat ( Dark marks on t e )odies. o* drowning victims were t oug t to )e )ruises *rom t eir struggle wit t e %odonoi( #etrieving a drowned )ody was t oug t to anger t e %odonoi w o wanted to keep t eir spoils( > %odonik may )e appeased )y pouring )utter into t e water or o**ering im your *irst *is ( $o employ t e %odonoi.s aid in *is ing, t row a pinc o* to)acco into t e water and say loudly 36ere.s your to)acco, Lord %odonik, now give me a *is 3( 6al ys $ e world serpent w o lay coiled at t e roots o* t e great world tree( 6e was t e arc enemy o* "erun, at w om "erun seemed to aim muc o* is lig tening(

"he Grea er Pan heon

Ba)a Caga Bialo)4g -zarn4)og Daz d)4g Dodola Dzarowit Dziewona Carilo Curata K ors Kol0ada Kupalo Lada Lado Lel Marzanna Mata Syra '0em0a MiDsiac Mokosz "erun "orevit #od #odenica #uevit #ugievit Simargl Slava Stri)4g Swar4g Swaroz icz Swiatowid $riglav %esna &eles $ e 'orya Baba 7aga - (BAH-bah 5AH-gah) 7e'i Baba in Polish (5!H-'hee BAH-bah) 35randmot er Bony+s anks3( > terri*ying &itc w o *lew t roug t e air in a mortar using t e pestle as a rudder and sweeping away er tracks wit a )room( S e lived in a revolving ouse

w ic stood on c icken legs( 6er *ence was made o* uman )ones and was topped wit skulls( $ e key ole was a mout *illed wit s arp teet ( S e would aid t ose w o were strong and pure o* eart and eat t ose w o were not( / see er as a 5oddess o* deat and initiation(

Bialobg (byah-4$H-book) & ite 5od *rom 3)ialy3 + w ite( 5od o* t e wa<ing year( 6e would de*eat is )rot er, -zarno)og in )attle every Koliada to take is place as ruler o* t e wa<ing year( >t Kupalo, t ey would )attle again, )ut -zarno)og would win to rule t e waning al*( 6e was said to appear as an old man wit a long w ite )eard, dressed in w ite and carrying a sta**( 6e was said to appear only )y day and o*ten assisted travellers in *inding t eir way out o* dark *orests or reapers in t e *ields( )'arnobg (char-N$H-book) Black 5od *rom 3czarne3 + )lack( 5od o* t e waning year( #a'hdbg (#AH6Hd-book2 5iver 5od *rom 3dati3 + to give($ e sun personi*ied + may )e t e same as K ors( $ is son o* Swiantowid emerged *rom is Eastern palace every morning in a two w eeled, diamond c ariot, pulled )y twelve *ire+)reat ing orses wit manes o* gold( 6e would travel across t e eavens eac day t roug is twelve kingdoms 9zodiac signsE2( Some )elieved t at e emerged eac day as a )eauti*ul in*ant and would age until is deat as an old man in t e &est( Daz d)4g was also a god o* 0ustice w o sat seated on a purple t rone surrounded )y is seven 0udges 9t e planetsE2 $ e morning and evening stars, seven messengers w o *ly across t e eavens wit *iery tails9comets2 and sometimes, M0est0as, is )ald uncle + t e moon( /n some legends, M0esyas is is wi*e( 6e as many c ildren w o, according to legend, live among t e stars and t e #ussian people, w o call t emselves 3Daz d)og.s grandc ildren(3 #'aro&i (*ahr-$H-vee ) or 7arovi (yar-$H-vee ) 5od o* war( Same root name as Carilo + yout and springtime( $ e istorian, 6er)ord, e7uated im wit Mars( 6is sacred sym)ol seems to ave )een t e s ield( & en is temple at &olgast was destroyed in @@?F, t ose entering it in searc o* idols *ound only a gigantic s ield( >*raid o* t e crowds gat ering outside, Bis op !tto.s men took t e s ield to ide )e ind as t ey e<ited( !n sig t o* moving s ield t e people t rew t emselves upon t e ground t inking t at it was t e god imsel*( Dzarowit is t oug t to )e one o* *our seasonal aspects o* Swiantowid, t e aspect ruling Springtime and looking toward t e &est( 6e may )e related to Carilo1 /n Dzarowit.s name is priests proclaimed 3/ am your god w o covers t e plains wit grass and t e *orests wit leaves( $ e produce o* t e *ields and woods, t e young o* t e cattle and all t ings t at serve man.s needs are in my power(3 *rom 5im)utas + 3$ e Slavs3 p@GB Dodola *rom 3doit3 + to give milk( > Sout Slavic cloudHrain goddess( #ain was t oug t to )e a *orm o* divine milk, sometimes t oug t to )e *rom Dodola, sometimes t e milk o* Mokos ( !*ten, t e clouds were perceived to )e eavenly women or even cows( /n Ser)ia, t e rites o* Dodola were kept up until 7uite recently; During a droug t a girl, called Dodola, clad only in greenery and

*lowers was led t roug t e village w ile er companions sang 3Dodola3 songs; &e pass t roug t e village, and t e clouds across t e sky( &e go 7uicker, and t e clouds go 7uicker, But t e clouds ave overtaken us and ave )edewed t e *ields( &e go t roug t e village, and t e clouds across t e sky, and see, a ring drops *rom t e clouds( + &(#(#alston p(??I+??J >*terwards, t e girl dances and spins w ile t e woman douse er wit water( $ is practice is t oug t to convince t e eavenly women, clouds, to rain upon t e eart , represented )y t e greenery( #'ie&ona (*eh-($H-nah) $ is untress was said to run t roug out t e -arpat ian *orests( > version o* Diana w ose legend is pro)a)ly due to contact wit t e #omanians( 7arilo (yah-+!!-loh) $ e :oung Lord + *rom 30aru3 + young, ardent, Springtime, )rig t, ras ( 6e is a )eauti*ul, )are*oot yout wearing a long w ite ro)e( 6is ead is crowned wit a wreat o* *lowers and e rides a w ite orse( 6e is seen olding a )unc o* w eat ears in is le*t and( 6e is a god o* yout and se<uality w ose sym)ol may ave )een t e p allus( 6e is a dying and resurrected 5od w ose *uneral was cele)rated during t e rites o* Kupalo( 7,ra a (yoo-+AH- ah) > Baltic Sea 5oddess w o took t e *orm o* a mermaid( S e was said to live in an underwater palace made o* am)er polis ed to look like gold( $ e mig ty "erun *ell in love wit er )eauty, )ut Curata ad eyes only *or a uman *is erman( $ e 0ealous 5od o* $ under send down a )olt o* lig tning w ic killed )ot Curata and er *is erman( & en pieces o* am)er was as ore, t ey are said to )e pieces o* Curata.s ruined palace( >not er version o* t is myt as er palace and lover destroyed )y er own sea *at er w o disapproved o* er romance wit a mere mortal( Durning storms it is said one may still ere er lamenting over t e loss o* er lover(9"oland2 /hors > name o* t e sun, personi*ied, *rom t e /ranian word 3k ursid3( $ e same as Daz d)og, as a matter o* *act, e is sometimes re*erred to as 3K ors Daz d)og3( $ e name o* t e circle dances, <orovods, comes *rom is name( /ol*ada (koh-15AH-da) a seasonal deity o* t e winter solstice( See Kupalo )elow( /,2alo (koo-PAH-&oh) >lt oug many re*erences are made to t is diety eit er )eing a water 5oddess or anot er version o* t e sacri*icial god, Carilo, as )est as / can acertain, Kupalo is a 3seasonal3 deity o* t e Summer Solstice( /t was customary in Slavic culture to create an e**igy named a*ter t e oliday w ic t ey were welcoming in( >t t e end o* t e oliday, t e e**igy was torn apart and tossed into t e *ields(

1ada (1AH-dah- 4AH-dah) Lada is t e Slavic goddess o* love and )eauty( /n #ussia, w en a couple is appily married, it is said t ey 3live in lada3, in love( Lad is also a word meaning 3peace, union, armony3 as in t e prover) 3& en a us)and and wi*e ave lad, t ey don.t re7uire klad 9$reasure23 + #alston, p(@BK( S e is said to reside in t e underworld, vri0, until t e %ernal E7uino<, Maslenica, w en s e returns, )ringing t e lark and springtime wit er( Like Carilo, Lada is o*ten portrayed as a goddess w o is )orn and dies yearly( 6er sacred tree is t e limeHlinden, supposedly )ecause its leaves are s aped like earts( >s a Slavonian love song goes; 3>s t e )ee is drawn )y t e linden+)loom 9or lime+per*ume2, My eart is drawn )y t ee(3 + Leland, p(@AF !ne story as er married to Swarog w o wit out er could not ave created t e world( !t er sources give er a )rot erHlover named Lado w ic would make t em divine twins suc as Freya and Frey( $ ere is also some mention o* er two sons, Lel = "olel, and occasionally t at o* a daug ter, Liuli( 1ado (1AH-doh- 4AH-doh) 3/ *ear t ee not, ! wol*L $ e god wit t e sunny curls will not let t ee apporac ( Lado, ! Sun+ Lado(3 + &(#(#alston, p(@BK "artner o* Lada, Lado is compared to Frey and considered a solar deity )y some( /n one old c ronicle, Lado is called 3$ e 5od o* marriage, o* mirt , o* pleasure and o* general appiness3 to w o t ose a)out to marry o**ered sacri*ice to ensure a good union( 1el Son o* Lada w o, according to "us kin, is t e Slavic version o* t e 5reek 6ymen + god o* marriage( 0ar'anna (%ahr-6AH-nah)- 0arena Deat and winter personi*ied( t e Marzanna appeared as an old woman dressed in w ite( >nnually, an e**igy o* er was made, escorted to t e edge o* t e village and t rown out( /n "oland ist was )urned t en 3drowned3( $ is was customary as )ot t e *ire o* t e sun, and t e rainwaters were needed *or t e *ertility o* t e crops( 0a ka or 0a a Syra 6*e%l*a 9M>6$+ka S/6#+a '6:EM+ya 2 3(((Matus ka 'emlia, Mot er Eart , giving suck *rom )ounti*ul )reasts to countless c ildren( & en t e peasants spoke o* Matus ka 'emlia, t eir eyes, usually dull and e<pressionless, were *looded wit love, like t e eyes o* c ildren w o see t eir mot er at a distance(3 + S marya Levin Moist Mot er Eart , seems to ave never )een personi*ied as ot er Eart 5oddesses were

9given uman *orm2, )ut wors ipped in er natural *orm( S e may, owever, )e t e same 5oddess as Mokos ( >long wit t e ancestral wors ip s own in t e )elie* in ouse old spirits, Eart wors ip was most adamantly clung to despite t e - ristianizing o* t e Slavic world( S e ad a)solute sanctity and no one was allowed to strike er or )egin *arming until er )irt giving time at Maslenica( Memorial day and >ssumption day 9sorry + / ave no dates as o* yet2 were er name days so no plowing or digging could )e done t en( >nyone spitting on t e Eart ad to )eg er *orgiveness( "roperty disputes were settled )y calling er to witness t e 0ustice o* t e claims( !at s and marriages were con*irmed )y swallowing a clump o* eart or olding it on t e ead( Boundaries were measured w ile walking t em wit a clump o* eart on t e ead( %illages were protected *rom cattle plague = epidemic )y plowing a *urrow around t em to release Mot er Eart .s power( /* no priest was present, sins were con*essed to t e eart and into t e ?Bt century survived t e custom o* )egging t e Eart .s *orgiveness prior to deat ( Eart wors ip was trans*erred to t e cult o* Mary and is w y s e is suc a central part o* Slavic - ristianity( 8nlike ot er nature deities, Mata Syra 'eml0a was never personi*ied as a 5oddess wit uman *eatures( /n t e early @JBB.s to save t eir village *rom plague o* c olera t e older women circled t e village at midnig t 7uietly getting t e younger women to come out( &it out t e men.s knowledge, t ey c ose nine maidens and t ree widows w o were led out o* t e village and undressed down to t eir s i*ts( $ e maidens let t eir air down, w ite s awls covered t e eads o* t e widows( $ ey armed t emselves wit ploug s and items o* *rig tening appearance suc as animal skulls($ e maidens took up scyt es and t e entire procession marc ed around t e village, owling and s rieking, w ile ploug ing a deep *urrow to release t e spirits o* t e Eart ( >ny man w o came upon t e procession was *elled )y t e maidens 3wit out mercy3( 0*8s*ac (05!H-syahn s) $ e Moon Deity+ Sometimes seen as 3$ e Sun.s old )ald uncle3, sometimes is wi*e w o grows older every winter as s e moves away *rom er us)and across t e sky( /n t e summer, er yout returns and t ey are once again re+united and remarried( 0okos' (0$H-kosh) 6er name means 3moisture3 and s e may )e t e personi*ied version o* Mati Syra 'ieml0a 9Moist Mot er Eart 2( /mages o* er survive to t is day in #ussianem)roidery wit arms raised, *lanked )y two orsemen( S e is usually descri)edas aving a large ead = long arms( /n !nolets, s e was )elieved to walk a)road or spin wool at nig t and i* a s eep mysteriously lost it.s air, it meant t at Mokos ad s eared t em( Mokos is associated wit weaving, spinning, and per aps t at is w y s e is seen as t e 5oddess o* *ate( S e is also seen as a 5oddess o* *ertility and )ounty( Some sources say s e rules over occult knowledge and divination( S e is also sometimes re*erred to as wi*e o* Swarog w ic would t en create a marriage o* 3 eaven3 and 3eart 3( #y)akov called er t e 5reat Mot er 5oddess o* t e Slavs( @Gt century c urc c ronicles contain a 7uestion posed to women paris oners 3Did you not go to MokoszE3 /t was )elieved t at i* Mokosz were pleased wit t e women.s o**erings, s e would elp t e women wit t eir laundry( $ is elps to support some people.s t eory t at Mokosz was actually a water 5oddess( >s a wandering goddess, s e is t oug t to )e tied into t e *ertility o* t e eart and rain is sometimes called 3Mokosz milk(3

Mokosz as survived in t e legends o* Mokos a + minor *emale spirits w o punis women *or spinning on Friday, Mokos sacred day( 6er wors ip was trans*ered to t at o* St( "araskeva+ Friday( Mokos . Feast Day + Mokos was onored on t e Friday )etween !ct ?K and ,ov @( S e was given o**erings o* vegeta)les and vegeta)les seem to ave )een t e *ocal point o* t e day( !ne re*erence *i<es t is date on !ct ?F( Per,n - Pir,n in Polish (P5$$-r,n) 5od o* t under *rom 3per, perk or perg3 + to strike( 6e is descri)ed as a rugged man wit a copper )eard( 6e rides in a c ariot pulled )y a e+goat and carries a mig ty a<e, or strely, sometimes a ammer( $ is a<e is urled at evil people and spirits and will always return to is and(, and o* oak( $ e word strela can mean eit er a<e or arrow, i(e( )olt and strela are ung on ourses to protect t em *rom storms, restore milk to cows, ease la)or and grant good luck to new)orns and newlyweds( 6is lig ting )olts were )elieved to pass t roug t e eart to a certain dept and return gradually to t e sur*ace in a speci*ic period o* time + usually I yrs MBdays( "eople, rocks and trees struck )y lig tening are considered to )e sacred *or t e eavenly *ire remains inside t em( /n @GK? a Lit uanian man was recorded to ave eaten t e as es o* a leat er saddle )urned )y lig tening( 6e )elieved is action would save im *rom illness and give im oracular powers and t e a)ility to con0ur *ire( >ll )ig trees were sacred to "erun, )ut e especially loved t e oak( $ ere are records o* oaks )eing *enced in as sacred to im( Sacri*ices to im usually consisted o* a rooster, )ut on special occasions, )ear, )ull or e+goat mig t )e killed( $ e sacri*iced animal was t en communally eaten as t ey were seen to )e im)ued wit t e power o* t eir patron 5od( Eating t e god.s animal to a)sor) t e god.s essence is similar to and predates t e ritual o* 6oly -ommunion( "erun.s arc enemy was t e zaltys, a great serpent curled at t e )ase o* t e world tree( Some ow, t is also put im on &eles. )lacklist and wors ip o* t ese two gods ad to )e kept separate( $emples to "erun tended to )e octagonal and on ig ground( >n idol o* im set outside t e castle o* %ladmir was said to ave a silver ead and gold moustac e + in some accounts, gold mout ( & en %ladmir tore down t e idol, it was tied to a orses tail and dragged to t e Dnieper( >mid muc weeping it was t en tossed in as men wit poles made sure t at e was not was ed as ore or pulled out( /t eventually *loated down river and was )lown onto a sand)ank still known as "erun.s )ank( "erun.s oly day is $ ursday, is *east day is t e ?Bt o* Culy( Porevi *rom t e root 3pora3 w ic means midsummer( $ is 5od, w o was wors iped at #ugen, is t oug t to )e one o* t e *our seasonal aspects o* Swiantovid *acing Sout and ruling over summer( > temple o* is in 5arz was destroyed in t e @?t century )y Danis King &aldemar( +od and +odenica- +o'henica Literally creator and creatri< *rom t e root ver), 3dati3 + to give )irt ( $ ey seem to )e t e original 3Lord and Lady3 w o created t e universe( Swarog gained control later on, seemingly, wit #od.s permission( -eremonial meals in t eir onor were denounced )y t e c urc ( $ ese meatless meals usually consisted o* cottage c eese, mead, )read and porridge(

#od survived as a sort o* Slavic penate, ouse old god( 6is wors ip was at t e center o* t e older ancestor cults( #odenica survived as a mot er+daug ter team o* glowing w ite *airies w o visited c ildren at t eir )irt and determined eac )a)y.s *ate( +,evi From t e root 3#uenu3 w ic was t e Slavonic autumnal mont named *or t e mating calls o* t e newly matured animals( &ors ipped on t e /sland o* #ugen, t is 5od is t oug t to )e one o* t e *our seasonal aspects o* Swiantowid ruling >utumn and *acing East( +,gievi 5od o* #ugen, may )e t e same as #uevit( 6is temple at 5arz consisted o* a large wooden structure wit an inner room w ic ad *our posts and a roo* and was decorated wit purple angings( 6is oak statue ad seven eads 9*aces, pro)a)ly2 and seven swords in is girdle, an eig t in is and( Si%argl > winged gri**in or dog t at pro)a)ly came to t e Slavs t roug t eir Sarmatian overlords( /n Sarmatian myt , Simourg 9Simargl2 guarded t e tree w ic produced t e seed to every species o* plant( 6e also was responsi)le *or t e dispursement o* t ese seeds and t us is connected wit vegetative *ertility( >ccording to some, Simargl is a *iery )ird and may )e t e orignal *ire)ird o* #ussian myt ( Slava > )eauti*ul )ird + a messenger o* 5od "erun, every *eat er o* w ic was said to s ine a di**erent color( $ is )eauti*ul )ird was called M>$E") -B> 9Mater Sva2 w ic can )e translated eit er as Mater Slava 9Mot er 5lory2, Mater sve< 9Mot er o* everyone2 or Mater Sova 9Mot er !wl + w ic may )e w y muc o* #ussian Folk art depicts an owl2( $ is *lame colored )ird usually appeared in t e critical moment and pointed wit its wing t e direction in w ic an army s ould go( Everyone knew t at eit er glory or a glorious deat awaited t e warriors and t e prince ad no c oice )ut to *ollow t e )ird.s lead( 9*rom $aras at >dventure &orld E+zine2 S ribg (SH"+!!-book) From 3srei3+to *low or *rom t e /ranian 3srira3 )eauti*ul, a common epit et *or t e wind( 5rand*at er o* t e winds( >ccording to E(5(Kagarov, Stri)og was a deity o* wind, storms and dissension( 6e was supposed to )ring t e *rost( S&arg (SH(A+-ook) From 3svargas3 + radiant sky, 3svarati3 + gleams( 6is name survives in t e #omanian word *or sun)urnt or ot + s*arog( > smit god, identi*ied wit 6ep aestis, e was associated wit *ire = wit it.s generative power, particularly se<ual( 6e is t e *at er o* Daz )og 9t e sun2 and Swarowicz + or !gon, t e celestial and eart *ires, respectively( > master cra*tsman, e could s apes i*t into t e wind, a golden+ orned auroc s 9o<2, )oar, orse, or t e *alcon, %aragna w ic was is main incarnation(

Swarog was concerned only wit eavenly a**airs and le*t t e eart ly ones to is son( 8n*ortunately *or is c ildren, "erun was a muc stronger war god and took over t e role as c ie* deity o* t e warrior classes( Swarog may )e t e 3divine lig t3 o* 5od w ic in turn produced )ot t e -elestial = $errestrial *ires( S&aro'hic'9S&aro&ic' (shvar-$H-'heech9veech) 5od o* *ire personi*ied( >s t e name literally means 3Swarog.s son3, all o* Swarog.s c ildren would )e called Swaroz ic i(e( 3Daz d)og Swaroz ic 3, t ere*ore, Swarowicz may not originally ave )een a god )ut all o* Swarog.s c ildren( Some sources mention Daz )og.s )rot er as !gon, meaning 3*ire3( !t er sources )elieve t at t e 5od o* *ire.s name could not )e spoken aloud( "eople would re*er to im )y is title as Swarog.s son( Ce ova was originally a *ire god w o.s name could not )e spoken aloud( mmm((((makes you wonder( S&ia o&id (shvyan-"$H-veed)- Sven ovi From 3svent3 + strong, or per aps 3sventu3 + /ranian *or oly( 5od o* war and protector o* *ields( 6is gender is not *i<ed as male, t oug , *or is statue in 5alica, "oland ad ? male sides and ? *emale sides( Swiantowid ad is own w ite orse only ridden )y t e ig priest( 6e was )elieved to accompany anyone w o went to war seated upon it( Be*ore a war, t e orse was led down a row o* crossed spears( /* e walked t e row wit out catc ing a oo* on a spear it was a good omen( 6is temple at >rkona was descri)ed t us; !ne door, a red roo* and strong walls ornamented in relie* wit all kinds o* roug ly painted carvings( $ e outer walls were made o* vertical wooden posts enclosing an area more t an ?Bm s7uare( /nside was decorated wit ornaments, purple items and animal orns( >n inner room consisting o* a roo* supported )y *our columns and ung wit purple rugs contained a sunken )ase *or a uge idol o* t e god( $ e idol eld a drinking orn in is rig t and( Mead was poured into it at arvest, t e ig er t e level reac ed, t e )etter ne<t year.s crop was purported to )e( Swiatowid may )e an aspect o* or &estern Slavonic version o* Swarog( "riglav ("+!!-glahv) $riglav was a t ree+*aced deity, sym)olizing t e dominion over t e t ree realms + sky, eart , and t e underworld( $riglav was s own )lind*olded, supposedly )ecause t e god was too sacred to view t e evils o* t e eart , and is temple at Stettin was ric ly sculpted )ot inside and out and decorated wit war )ooty on t e inside( (esna 3Spring3( > %ernal 5oddess, possi)le Ser)ian in origin( 4eles- (olos ((!H-less- ($H-lohs) $ e Slavic 6orned lord, ruled orned animals, wealt and t e underworld( 6e is )elieved to ave survived *rom t e time o* a common /ndo+European pant eon( 6e was also a god o* trade and oat s were sworn in is name( &eles is also t e 5od o* poets and )ards and is o*ten associated wit magick( 6e was later associated wit St( Blas, guardian o* cattle(

>t Kiev, is statue was not among t ose on t e ill outside t e palace )ut was instead, erected in t e marketplace( $ is is supposedly )ecause e and "erun are great enemies and couldn.t )e wors ipped toget er( "he 6orya - (6$+-yah) $ ese daug ters o* Daz d)og are t e >uroras o* dawn and dusk, and sometimes ave a t ird sister, midnig t 9per aps, "olunocnica2( $ ey are t e 5uardians o* t e 5od or ound, w ic is c ained to t e constellation, 8rsa Ma0or( Like t e Fenris wol* o* t e ,orse myt os, t is creature will destroy t e world i* it ever )reaks *ree( Eac morning, 'orya 8trenyaya opens t e gates o* Daz d)og.s Eastern palace so e may ride across t e sky( /n t e evening, 'orya %ec ernyaya closes t e gates a*ter er *at er.s daily ride is *inis ed( $ eir ot er two sisters, 'ez da Dennitsa and %ec ernyaya 'ez da, t e morning star and evening star are t e caretakers o* t eir *at er.s orses and are sometimes considered to )e t e same two goddesses( $ ese 5oddesses, associated wit %enus, are sometimes merged into one warrior 5oddess, 'orya, w o ides and protects warriors wit er veil(

Slavic 0agick & :olk 0edicine

Spells Divinations #emedies Superstitions S2ells
Pros2eri y and #o%es ic "ran;,ili y $o >ttract a Domovoi; 5o outside o* your ome wearing your *inest clot ing and say aloud 3Dedus ka Do)rok ot, "lease come into my ouse and tend t e *locks(3 $o rid yoursel* o* a rival Domovoi; Sometimes a ome may ave one too many Domoviki( /n t is case poltergeist+like activity may occur( Beat t e walls o* your ome wit a )room s outing 35rand*at er Domovoi, elp me c ase away t is intruder(3 "o Gain 0agickal /no&ledge -alling a Les ii; -ut down an >spen tree so t at it.s top *alls *acing t e East( Bend over and look t roug your legs saying 3Les i, Forest Lord, -ome to me now1 not as a grey wol*, not as a )lack raven, not as a *laming *ir tree, )ut as a man(3 $ e les ii will teac t e arts o* magick to any w om e )e*riends( 9*rom /vanits + #ussian Folk Lore2 :or 1ove

a zagorovui, or runespell, to capture t e one you love; /n t e ocean sea, on t e island o* Buyan, t ere live t ree )rot ers, t ree winds; t e *irst ,ort ern, t e second Eastern and t e t ird &estern( &a*t, ! winds, )ring on 9lover.s name2 sorrow and dreariness so t at wit out me sH e may not )e a)le to spend a day nor pass an ourL and yet anot er((( /, 9con0uror.s name2, stand still, uttering a )lessing( / go *rom t e room to t e door, *rom t e courtyard to t e gates( / go out into t e open *ield to t e Eastern side( !n t e Eastern side stands an iz)a 9cottage2( /n t e middle o* t e iz)a lies a plank, under t e plank is t e longing( $ e longing weeps( $ e longing so)s, waiting to get at t e w ite lig t( $ e w ite lig t , t e *air sun, waits, en0oys itsel*, and re0oices( So may sH e wait, longing to get to me, and aving done so, may e en0oy imsel* and re0oiceL >nd wit out me let it not )e possi)le *or im to live, nor to )e, nor to eat, nor to drink1 neit er )y t e morning dawn, nor )y t e evening glow( >s a *is wit out water, as a )a)e wit out its mot er, wit out its mot er.s milk, cannot live, so may sH e, wit out me, not )e a)le to live, nor to )e, nor to eat, nor to drink, nor )y t e evening glow1 neit er every day, not at mid+day, nor under t e many stars, nor toget er wit t e stormy winds( ,eit er under t e sun )y day, nor under t e moon )y nig t( "lunge t ysel*, ! longing, gnaw t y way, ! longing, into isH er )reast, into isH er eart1 grow and increase in all isH er veins, in all is )ones, wit pain and t irst *or meL + *rom 3Songs o* t e #ussian "eople3, &illiam #alston :or Pro ec ion "rayer; #ecite t e *ollowing prayer to 'orya; ! %irgin, uns eat your *at er.s sacred sword( $ake up t e )reastplate o* your ancestors( $ake up your power*ul elmet( Bring *ort your steed o* )lack( Fly *ort to t e open *ield, $ ere, w ere t e great army wit countless weapons is *ound( ! , %irgin, cover me wit your veil( "rotect me against t e power o* t e enemy >gainst guns and arrows, warriors and weapons1 &eapons o* wood, o* )one, o* copper, o* iron and steel( 9*rom $ e ,ew Larousse Encyc( o* Myt ology2 :or Ha22iness #ecite t e *ollowing to a *lame;

3Dear Fat er, tsar *ire, Be gentle and kind to me( Burn away all my ac es = pains, tears = worries(3 "o Have 1os Ani%als +e ,rn $ e *ollowing letter is written on t ree pieces o* )irc )ark; / am writing to t e *orest tsar and *orest tsaritsa wit t eir small c ildren1 to t e eart tsar and eart tsaritsa wit t eir small c ildren1 to t e water tsar and water tsartitsa wit t eir small c ildren( / in*orm you t at 9name o* owner inserted2 as lost a 9color mentioned2 orse 9or cow, or ot er animal + distinctive marks s ould )e given2( /* you ave it send it )ack wit out delaying an our, a minute, a second( /* you do not comply wit my wis , / s all pray against you to t e great 5od, &eles and tsaritsa >le<andra( !ne letter is *astened to a tree in t e *orest, t e second )uried in t e eart and t e t ird t rown wit a stone into water( >*ter t is, t e lost animal is supposed to return )y itsel*( "o Bring he +ain /* rain was needed a virgin girl was c ose, one not yet old enoug to conceive w ose mot er was no longer a)le to conceive( ,aked, yet draped all over wit *lowers, s e would w irl around and around w ile singing invocations to "erun( >ll t e w ile s e would )e 3watered3 )y t e surrounding women( "o 4in a :is :igh #ecite w ile olding a stone *rom a gravesite; 3/ summon to my aid t e *orest spirits *rom t e *orest and t e water spirits *rom t e water; and you, *orest spirits o* t e *orest, water spirits o* t e water, come to my aid against my opponent *ist+*ig ter, and ena)le me to de*eat my opponent *ist+*ig ter wit my own *ists( >nd you, *orest spirits *rom t e *orest and water spirits o* t e water, take t e rock *rom t is corpse and place it on t e ands, or ead, or *eet o* my opponent *ist+*ig ter(((and 0ust as t is dead man is eavy *rom t e eart and rock, so too may my opponent *ist+*ig ter )e eavy to li*t is and against me, and may my opponent )ecome weak in t e arms and t e legs, and )lind in t e eyes *rom my verdict until t e time / remove it(3 "o G,ard agains Slander > zagovorui, or runespell, against Slander; ! rig teous SunL Do t ou in my *oes, my rivals, my opposers, in t e powers t at )e, and pu)lic o**icials, and in all people o* good mout and eart, parc up evil t oug ts and deeds, so t at t ey may not rise up, may not utter words )ale*ul *or meL S2oiling 3Spoiling3 is a Slavic term *or cursing( $ e *ollowing spells are posted ere only *or researc purposes; "o )a,se $ne o 4i her Dirt *rom t e victim.s *ootprint was collected and placed in a little )ag, or a lock o* t e victim.s air was coated wit clay( Eit er o* t ese were ung inside t e c imney( >s t e dirt or clay dried out, so, supposedly, did t e victim( "o )a,se #ea h

Bare eaded and wearing only an undergarment, t e magick user would circle t e property o* is or er victim.s yard wit a )urning candle( $ e candle was t en )roken in two and turned upside+ down( Eggs 9termed 3w ite swans3 *or t is purpose2 andHor )read were )roug t to t e gravesite o* a known criminal in e<c ange *or some soil *rom t eir grave w ic was removed w ile saying 3>s t is corpse as died unrepentant, so may you too die, unrepentant(3

#ivina ions
$atyana curiously gazes >t t e prop etic wa<en mold, >ll eager in its wondrous mazes > wonderous *uture to )e old( $ en *rom t e )asin someone dredges, #ing a*ter ring, t e player.s pledges, >nd comes er ringlet, t ey re earse $ e immemorial little verse; 3$ ere all t e ser*s are wealt y yeomen, $ ey s ovel silver wit a spade1 $o w om we sing, e s all )e made Famous and ric L3 But *or ill omen $ ey take t is plaintive ditty.s voice1 Kos urka 9kitten2 is t e maiden.s c oice + "us kin, *rom Eugene !negin %(F, translated )y &alter >rndt( "od)l0udna0a + 9"o d+)lyood+,/E+ya2 + 38nder t e "late3 $ is *orm o* divination s ould )e done on Koliada and ,ew :ear.s only( Eac person takes a ring o** t eir *inger and places it into a )owl *illed wit water( > plate covers t e )owl and songs are sung over it( >t t e end o* eac song, a ring is pulled out and t e *ate t at t e song is )elieved to apply to t e owner o* t at ring( So%e radi ional Podbl*,dna*a< Podbl*,dna*a ha =or ell a &edding< $ e ring was rolling >long t e velvet $ e ring rolled up $o t e ru)y( For one w o takes it out For er it will come true, For er it will come true, S e will not escape > Maple entwined wit a )irc /t did not untwine + Lada, Lada & oever takes it out For er it will come true,

>ll will )e well( > little cat is sitting /n a wicker )asket S e is sewing a towel( S e will marry t e tom For w om we are singing >ll will )e well( Podbl*,dna*a ha =or ell &eal h< > rooster was digging on a little mound o* Eart $ e rooster dug up > little pearl( For w oever gets it >ll will )e well( > caly< is *loating *rom somew ere )eyond t e sea( $o w erever it *loats, t ere it will )lossom( & oever takes it out + For er will it come true( S e will not escape + gloryL "o 2redic a *o,rney< $ e sleig stands, ready to go + 5loryL /n it t e cus ions are all arranged + 5loryL /t stands near t e *orest, waiting to go *or a ride + 5loryL $o w om we sing t is song, all will )e well( /t will come true, s e will not escape + 5lory( "o 2redic &ido&hood< / sat + )y a window / waited + *or my )eloved / could no longer wait / *ell asleep( /n t e morning + / awoke / suddenly + realized / am a widow( $o w om we sing, all will come true( "o =or ell dea h< Deat is walking down t e street -arrying )liniN on a plate & oever takes t e ring out For er it will come true( S e will not escape + 5lory(

9N)lini is a traditional *ood o**ering to t e dead2 "his 2odbl*,dna*a is radi ionally s,ng a %idnigh on Ne& 5ear>s eve and also 2redic s dea h. > dandy once took a very s arp a<e + Lile0u $ e dandy went out + into t e wide courtyard( $ e dandy )egan + to ew some )oards $o nail t e wood + into an oaken co**in & omever t is song reac es, For er it will come true S e will not escape /* you c oose to write your own songs *or t is divination ritual, you may want to use some traditional sym)olism( Bread, grain, millet or rye sym)olize arvest, *ul*illment and material security( 5old, silver, 0ewels, pearls, *ur and e<pensive clot sym)olize lu<ury and wealt ( Doing t ings toget er like eating, drinking, working, standing or sitting toget er sym)olize love and appy marriages( $ e songs are usually s ort as one song 7uickly *ollows anot er and traditionally, eac re*rain ends wit a praise word suc as glory( Songs aken =ro% +eeder< +,ssian :olk 1yrics. > #ussian =lo&er divina ion resem)les t e 36e loves me3 r yme( $ ey say; Lyu)it, ,e lyu)it, "lyunit, "otseluyet, K sertsu priz met, K c ertu pos let, Dorogo0 nazovet 9SH6e loves, doesn.t love me, Spits on me, Kisses me, 6ugs me to isH er eart, Sends me to t e devil, -alls me isH er dear one(2 /* a t read was anging *rom one.s clot ing, t ey would wrap it around t e *inger w ile reciting t e alp a)et( & atever letter you stop on w en t e t read is *ully wrapped is t e initial o* t e *uture spouse( $ e color o* t e t read is also important( /* t e t read is pale, t e spouse will )e )londe, i* dark, t e spouse will )e a )runette( &a< Divinations + )e*ore Kol0ada, wa< was melted and a*ter it cooled, or was dropped into water, special attention was given to its s ape( > co**in meant deat to t e in7uirer, a ring meant marriage, etc( Sometimes t is met od was used )y dropping molten lead into t e water instead o* wa<( Ne& 5ear>s #ivina ions Divination rituals t at occurred on ,ew :ear.s Eve were considered especially power*ul i* one *ollowed certain rules( ,o crosses or )elts could )e worn and no )lessings could )e asked( /t was customary on ,ew :ear.s Eve *or a girl to )ack up to t e )at ouse door wit er em over t e )ack o* er ead 9rear+end e<posed2 and ask a 7uestion o* t e Bannik( /* a cold touc or scratc *rom is claw was *elt, it meant no( /* a warm touc or caress was *elt, it meant yes(

$ is same divination could )e used i* one put t eir and in+)etween t e wood o* t e )at

ouse(

/* you looked into t e mirror in t e steam )at on ,ew :ears eve, you would see t e *ace o* your *uture us)and, or i* you slept on a log, you would see is *ace in a dream( /* you caug t t e moons re*lection in a mirror, your *uture spouses name would also )e revealed t ere(

+e%edies
$ ese are actual remedies t at were used, taken *rom various sources( & et er or not t ey work, / could not tell you( Alcoholis%< a zagovorui, or rune spell, *or alco olism; Dost t ou ear ! Sky 9Svarog2E Dost t ou see, ! SkyE ! ye )rig t StarsL Descend into t e marriage+cup, and in my cup let t ere )e water *rom a mountain spring( ! t ou *air MoonL Bow down to my klyet 9store+room2( ! t ou *ree SunL Dawn upon my omestead( ! ye StarsL Deliver me,9insert name ere2, *rom drinkL ! Sun, draw me *rom drinkL )olds< / t ink Ba)ci was 0ust trying to keep me 7uiet wit t is one w en / was littleL /nto a cup o* ot tea add *res lemon 0uice, oney and a s ot o* 0ezynowka 9"olis c erry )randy2( Sip( 6ave no more t an ? cups, unless you &>,$ to get drunk( )o,ghs< 8pon retiring, ave a glass o* ot )eer( >dd some oney to a grated radis and eat along wit any o* t e radis 0uices( )rankiness< 3& en your c ild is mysteriously cranky, as a strange unyielding eadac e, or can.t sleep a*ter a day out or around people, eit er t e c ild as )een 0in<ed or e<posed to negative energyH*orces $ e c ild.s mot er s ould take t e lower le*t corner o* er skirt, apron, or s irt wit er rig t and and wipe t e c ilds *ace several times in a clockwise direction( >*terwards, give t e c ild some water and put it to )ed( $ is spell is normally used *or young c ildren )ut it works at any age( My IB year old grandma did it to my KB year old mot er a little w ile ago and it worked(3 9$ anks to %ika *or t is 8kranian remedy2 :ever<

#u) vodka on your c est and *eet, put some mustard powder in a pair o* woollen socks and put t em on( Drink a mi<ture o* milk, oney, )aking soda, and vodka and go to sleep( Be*ore )ed, stand naked, wearing only a woolen at, wit your *eet up to t e ankles in ot water and drink a large mug o* tea wit oney, 0am, and at least @BBg 9a)out ? @H? s ots2 o* vodka( He%%orhoids< "ut two liters o* milk and *our large onions in a large covered clay pot and slowly eat it in t e oven( #emove t e pot *rom t e oven, replace t e cover wit a toilet seat or similar o)0ect and sit on it( Steam yoursel* *or a w ile and t en ru) t e a**licted area wit vaseline( Hicc,2s< #u) a mi<ture o* vinegar and mustard on your tongue( 6old *or two minutes and t en rinse( Illness- general< a zagorvorui, or runespell, *or ealing; Mot er 'orya o* morning and evening and midnig tL as ye 7uietly *ade away and disappear, so may )ot sicknesses and sorrows in me, 9insert name2, 7uietly *ade and disappear + t ose o* t e morning, and o* t e evening, and o* midnig tL Pain< 3For une<plaina)le pain in t e arm, and, or wrist w ic not ing seems e**ective on(((( $ake a piece o* t read 9red is )est(((/ don.t know w y )ut / can ask i* you like2 and tie it around your wrist( /t s ould ease t e pain i* it doesn.t get rid o* it all toget er(3 + From %ika( Sore "hroa < Mi< one cup vodka, one cup oil and t e 0uice o* one lemon( 5argle wit it and t en drink( Make a 0uice o* mas ed onion and water( 5argle( Breat e eavily on a *rog *or a)out F to @B minutes( $ e *rog.s eart s ould start )eating rapidly and t e sickness s ould pass entirely to t e *rog( :ou s ould *eel instant relie*( $ e less *aint o* eart s ould put t e *rog directly into t e mout and old it *or a couple o* minutes( S ,==y nose; Mas several cloves o* garlic and put t em in a pot o* )oiling water( Stand over t e pot and )reat e t roug your nose *or *ive minutes( "ickling- "o 2roo= a child agains < #oll doug over t e c ild.s )ack, t en )ake a *lat cake o* t at doug and *eed it to t e dog(

 "oo hache< "lace a piece o* salo 9a sla) o* *at2 in t e opposite side o* t e mout *rom t e pain*ul region( 6old *or a)out ?B minutes( A 'agovor,i- r,nes2ell- =or a oo hache< ! t ou young MoonL $est t e dead and t e living; t e teet o* one w o is dead, do t ey ac eE ,ot at all ac e t e teet o* one dead, w ose )ones are tanned, w ose teet are mute((((5rant, ! Lord, t at t e teet o* me, OOOOOOO, may )ecome mute and never ac e( $ is zagovorui must )e recited t ree times w ile )iting t e stone doorway o* a c urc ; >s t is stone is *irm, so may my teet also )ecome stony + arder t an stone $ is supposedly goes )ack to pre+- ristian times and t e stone was originally t e stone o* an a<e or ammer, sym)ols o* "erun( 3lcer< Mi< two raw eggs wit a s ot o* vodka and drink ?B minutes )e*ore )reak*ast( 32se s o%ach< >dd salt and pepper to two s ots o* vodka and drink( 4ar s< 0y grand%o her>s re%edy -ut a piece *rom a potato 9)e care*ul t at it does not include an 3eye32 ru) t e cut part on t e wart and t en )ury t e piece o* potato( >s t e potato dissolves, so will t e wart(

$%ens & S,2ers i ions

,ever touc a person or s ake t eir and over t e t res old( /* you don.t wait until t ey are inside, you will not see t em again *or seven years and risk angering t e Domovoi to )oot( /t is unlucky to sit at t e corner o* a ta)le( /* t e cat is cleaning ersel* it means t at company is coming( /* you w istle inside, you risk losing all your money( ,ever )egin a new pro0ect on a Friday( /* you compliment a person on t eir appearance or t eir )a)y.s ealt , you must eit er knock unpolis ed wood or spit t ree times over t e le*t s oulder lest t e *airy.s take t em( ,ever s ave or cut your air w en a *amily mem)er is in danger( ,ever cut your air w ile pregnant or t e un)ilical cord will wrap around ur )a)y.s neck + From

%ika( & en giving *lowers, give only odd num)ers o* *lowers( Even num)ers are *or t e dead( /* a )ird its t e window, someone will die( /* you accidently step in poop or a )ird poops on you, you will win money( + From %ika( /* you )reak a mirror, you can run t e pieces under water to counteract t e )ad luck( ,ever s ow a new)orn )a)y to a stranger until it is at least MB days old( Do not put keys on a ta)le( :ou.ll lose money + From %ika(

$atyana, in er eart o)eying $ e simple *olkways o* t e past, Believed in dreams and in soot saying >nd eeded w at t e moon *orecast( &eird apparitions would distress er, >nd any o)0ect could impress er &it some occult signi*icance !r dire *ore)oding o* misc ance( > preening pussycat, rela<ing 8pon t e stove wit lick and purr, &as an un*ailing sign to er $ at guests were coming1 or a wa<ing $win+ orned young moon t at s e saw ride >cross t e sky on er le*t side &ould make er trem)le and c ange color1 Eac time a s ooting star mig t *las /n t e dark *irmament, grow duller >nd )urst asunder into as ; >ll *lustered, $anya would )e seeking, & ile yet t e *iery spark was streaking, $o w isper it er eart.s desire( But i* s e met a )lack+ro)ed *riar >t any place or any season, !r i* *rom out t e meadow swat > *leeing are s ould cross er pat , S e would )e *rig tened out o* reason, >nd *illed wit superstitious dread, See some calamity a ead( + "us kin + *rom Eugene !negin %(K = %(G + translated )y &alter >rndt(

Slavic Pagan Belie=s

$ e Slavic peoples are not a 3race3( Like t e #omance and 5ermanic peoples, t ey are related

)y area and culture, not )y )lood( $oday t ere are t irteen di**erent Slavic groups divided into t ree )locs, Eastern, Sout ern and &estern( $ is includes t e #ussians, "olis , -zec s, 8kranians, Byelorussians, Ser)o+-roatians, Macedonians, Slovenians, Bulgarians, Kas u)ians and Slovakians( >lt oug t e Lit uanians, Estonians and Latvians are o* Baltic tri)es, we are including some o* t eir customs as t ey are similar to t ose o* t eir Slavic neig )ors( Slavic #unes were called 3#unitsa3, 3- erty y #ezy3 93Strokes and -uts32 and later, 3%lesovitsa3( $ e -yrillic system 93-yrillitsa32 was created in t e Jt century )y Sts( -yril and Met odius )ased on a com)ination o* t e 5reek alp a)et and t e Slavic #unes( %lesovitsa continued to )e used )y t e "agans, w ile -yrillitsa was used )y t e - ristians( During t e 3war3 against "aganism, t e - ristians destroyed eac document t at contained #unic instead o* t e -yrillic writing, usually along wit its owner( $ is was done so e**ectively t at according to most sources, t e ancient Slavic peoples ad no written language at all( $ ere*ore t e nearly all records o* t e rituals, temples and idolsHgods o* t e ancient Slavs come *rom t e very people sent to destroy t em( $ is, along wit t e *act t at very little in*ormation on Slavic Myt ology and Magick as )een translated into Englis , makes studying t e su)0ect e<tremely di**icult( #esearc must t en )e done t roug t e study o* *olklore and *olk customs( Fortunately, t e medieval Slavic peasant did not em)raced - ristianity on any more t an a sur*ace level( $ is gave rise to w at t e #ussians call dvoeverie 9dvo +ev+%>/#+rye 2 or 3dou)le+*ait 3( >ccording to one istorian, - ristianity so s allowly masked t e sur*ace o* t e true "agan )elie*s, many a peasant did not know t e name o* t e man on t e cross to w om e prayed(

#,alis% & "he $rigins o= Slavic Belie=

$ e origins o* Slavic )elie*, like t at o* t e rest o* t e world.s, rest in animism and ancestral wors ip( $ e *irst two types o* spirit were called t e )eregyni + *emale spirits t at )ring li*e and are t e *orerunners o* t e #usalki, and 8pyr + t e spirits o* deat w o eventually )ecame our modern %ampire 9&ampyr2( From t is original dualism sprang )elie* in all o* t e nature spirits, and eventually in t e #od and #oz enitsa, t e 5od and 5oddess w o im)ue t e new)orn c ild wit a soul and isH er *ate( >lt oug nearly all deities were originally ancestral, #od and #oz enitsa eventually pulled t e Slavic mind out o* t at way o* t inking and opened t e doorway *or t e later 3/ndo+European3 way o* t inking, alt oug t e original 3!ld European3 way o* t inking kept a stronger old on t e average Slav( Dualism permeates all o* Slavic "agan spirituality and actually seems to )e t e )asis *or most o* it( $ is s ould not )e con*used wit t e dualistic good against evil )elie*s o* t e - ristian religion w ic ave un*ortunately seeped into t e Slavic spirituality o* today( /t is a system o* complimenting opposites suc as darkness and lig t, winter and summer, *emale and male, cold and ot more similar to t e yinHyang( $ e 5od+)rot ers Bialy)og 3w ite+god3 and -zarne)og 3)lack+god3 w o rule t e lig t al* and dark al* o* t e year respectively, are *urt er illustrations o* t is polarity( 8n*ortunately, )ecause o* t e introduction o* - ristianity, t ese two gods later )ecame con*used wit 35od3 and Satan( !t er e<amples o* dualism are + t e two #oz initsy, t e mot er and daug ter *ates, t e spirits o* midnig t, "olunocnitsa and noon, "oludnitsa + )ot times seen to )e e7ually as *rig tening, and t e 'orya + 5oddesses o* dusk and dawn( $ e Elements $ e ancient Slavs ad a deep sense o* reverence *or t e *our elements( Fire and &ater were seen as sacred dualistic sym)ols on t e orizontal or eart ly plane( Eart and Sky were seen as a more vertical system o* duality( 6ig places suc as mountaintops or treetops, especially )irc , linden and oak, )ecame sacred as meeting places t e Sky *at er and t e Eart mot er( & ere t ey met, t ey would 0oin t eir procreative *orces, usually in a *las o* lig tening and clap o* t under(

$ e winds were seen as t e grandc ildren o* t e 5od, Stri)og( &ater was re*ered to in myt ology as t e water o* li*e and deat and rivers were treated wit respect lest t ey s ould drown you on your ne<t visit( $ ere are records o* uman, as well as ot er sacri*ices )eing made to rivers suc as t e Dneiper and t e %olga( >lt oug many )odies o* water ad t eir own deities, most )odies o* water were ruled )y spirits known as #usalki or %odanoi( Fire was personi*ied )y t e god, Svaroz ic and it was considered nearly criminal to spit into a *ire( Mati Syra 'eml0a or Mot er Moist Eart , owever, seems to ave )een given t e greatest amount o* respect( ,o one was allowed to strike Mati Syra 'eml0a wit a oe, until t e Spring E7uino<, Maslenica, as s e was considered pregnant until t en( Eart was considered so sacred t at oat s were sworn w ile olding a piece o* er, sometimes in t e mout and ancient wedding vows were taken w ile swallowing a small clump o* Eart or olding it on t e ead( $ e custom o* asking t e Eart .s *orgiveness )e*ore deat was still )eing o)served *ar into t e ?Bt century and w en a priest could not )e *ound it was considered appropriate to con*ess sins to t e Eart (

"o e%s
Like t e native >mericans, eac Slavic tri)e ad a totem animal t at t e clan was usually named a*ter( /t was considered ta)oo to kill or eat t is animal e<cept *or speci*ic religious rituals( Eac mem)er o* t e tri)e was t oug t to ave an animal twin, and t e deat o* t at twin could cause t e deat o* t e tri)e mem)er( $ e &orld $ree $ e Slavs )elieved t at t e world tree was divided into t ree parts1 $ e roots e<isted in t e realm o* t e underworld, 3,av3, and were w ere t e zaltys lived( $ e main section e<isted in t e mundane world and t e uppermost )ranc es reac ed into t e land o* t e sky 5ods( > magical )ird was said to live in t e )ranc es( >lt oug t e Slavs did ave %iking in*luence, t e world tree )elie*s seem to come more *rom t e native Si)erians( $ ese >sian peoples eac keep a tree, usually a linden, near t eir ome and see it as a sort o* 3telep one3 to t e ot er realms( -reation Myt s 9#ussian @BI@ -E + t e transcript o* Lavrenti02 + > Slavic magi was recorded as saying; 3&e know ow man was created; 5od was was ing in t e )at ouse and, a*ter sweating, e wiped imsel* wit a towel t at e t rew onto t e ground1 t en Satan entered into dispute wit 5od as to w o s ould make man out o* t is towel1 and 5od )reat ed a soul into im, t ere*ore a*ter deat man.s )ody returns to t e soil and is spirit to 5od(3 > - ristmas -arol *rom 5alica e<plains; & en t ere was in t e )eginning no world, $ en t ere was neit er eaven nor eart ( Everyw ere was a )lue sea, >nd on t e midst o* t e sea, a green plane+trees !n t e plane tree t ree doves, $ ree doves take counsel, $ake counsel as ow to create t e world( 3Let us plunge to t e )ottom o* t e sea( Let us gat er *ine sand1 Let us scatter *ine sand, $ at it may )ecome *or us )lack eart ( Let us get golden rocks1 Let us scatter golden rocks( Let t ere )e *or us a )rig t sky, > )rig t sky, a s ining sun, > s ining sun and )rig t moon, > )rig t moon, a )rig t morning star,

> )rig t morning star and little starlets( +Dra omaniv p(@B /n ot er recorded versions o* t is song, t ere are two doves not t ree, two oaks instead o* a plane tree or )lue stones instead o* golden ones( Muc later versions ave 5od, St( "eter and St( "aul riding t e doves as t e actual creators( /n t e )eginning, t ere were no eart and no people, only t e primordial sea( Bielo)og *lew over t e *ace o* t e waters in t e s ape o* a swan and was lonely( Longing *or someone to keep im company, e noticed is s adow, - erno)og and re0oiced( 3Let us make land3 said Bielo)og( 3Let us,3 said - erno)og, )ut w ere will we get t e dirtE3 3$ ere is dirt under t e water, go down and get some,3 answered Bielo)og, )ut )e*ore you can reac it, you must say .&it Bielo)og.s power and mine.(3 $ e devil dived into t e water, )ut said 3&it My "ower3, instead o* w at e was instructed to say( $wice e dived down and neit er time did e reac t e )ottom( Finally, t e t ird time e said 3&it Bielo)og.s "ower and Mine3 and e reac ed t e dirt( Scraping some up wit is nails, e )roug t it to t e sur*ace )ut id a grain o* dirt in is mout in order to ave is own land( 5od t en took t e dirt *rom im and scattered it upon t e water( $ e dirt )ecame dry land and )egan to grow( !* course, t e land in - erno)og.s mout also )egan to grow and is mout )egan to swell( - erno)og was *orced to spit and spit to rid imsel* o* all t e eart and w ere e spit, mountains were *ormed( >ngered t at e was c eated out o* is own land, e waited *or Bielo)og to *all asleep( >s soon as t e god was sleeping peace*ully, -zerno)og li*ted im up to t row im in t e water( /n eac direction e went, )ut t e land ad grown so muc , e could not reac t e ocean( & en Bielo)og awoke, -zerno)og said 3Look ow muc t e land as grown, we s ould )less it(3 ((>nd Bielo)og said slyly, 3/ )lessed it last nig t, in all *our directions, w en you tried to t row me in t e water(3 $ is greatly angered -zerno)og w o stormed o** to get away *rom Bielo)og once and *or all( /n t e meantime, t e eart would not stop growing( $ is made Bielo)og very nervous as t e 6eavens could no longer cover it all, so e sent an e<pedition to ask -zerno)og ow to make it stop( -zerno)og ad since created a goat( & en t e e<pedition saw t e great god -zerno)og riding astride a goat, t ey couldn.t stop laug ing( $ is angered t e god and e re*used to speak to t em( Bielo)og t en created a )ee, and sent t e )ee to spy on -zerno)og( $ e )ee 7uietly alit upon -zerno)og.s s oulder and waited( Soon, s e eard im say to t e goat 3& at a stupid godL 6e doesn.t even know t at all e as to do is take a stick, make a cross to t e *our directions and say .$ at is enoug eart .( /nstead e wonders w at to do(3 6earing t is, t e )ee )uzzed o** in e<citement( Knowing t at e.d )een eard, -zerno)og yelled a*ter t e )ee, 3& oever sent you, Let im eat your e<crementL3( $ e )ee went directly to Bielo)og and said 36e said >ll you need to do is make a cross to t e *our directions and say .$ at is enoug eart (. >nd to me e said .let w omever sent you eat your

e<crement.( So god stopped t e eart *rom growing and t an said to t e )ee 3$ en *orever a*ter, let t ere )e no e<crement sweeter t an yours(3 $ is myt is a com)ination o* myt s *rom Bulgarian and 8kranian sources( >lt oug t e versions o* t ese myt s use 5od and Satanail as t e dual creators, Slavic sc olars agree t at t e myt is a later *orm o* t e original dualism o* -zerno)og and Bielo)og( Because o* t is / ave replaced t e names( "he 4orld "ree. Some Slavs )elieved t at t e Eart was an /sland *loating in water t at t e sun was immersed in every evening( >t t e center o* t is /sland stood t e world tree or mountain( $ e roots o* t is tree e<tended deep into t e underworld and t e )ranc es reac ed ig up into t e realm o* t e sky gods, /ri0( ,av was t e underworld, realm o* t e dead *rom w ence it gets its name( &elesH&olos, t e 5od o* cattle and wealt and Lada, 5oddess o* springtime were also said to reside ere( $ is is not really surprising, considering t at most ct onic deities, suc as "luto, Saturn and !ps were also associated wit wealt and t at t e crops are pus ed upward *rom inside t e Eart ( >lso, Lada would return *rom t e underworld in t e spring, muc like Kore, "ersep one and !stara o* t e $eutons did( $rigin o= 4i chcra= - a s ory Long ago, w en t e world was still *airly new, a young woman ventured into t e woods to pick mus rooms( /n no time at all, t e skies opened up upon er and narrowly escaping t e rain, s e ran )eneat a tree, removed all o* er clot ing, and )undled t em up in er )ag so t ey would not get wet( >*ter some time, t e rain stopped and t e woman resumed er mus room picking( &eles, 6orned 5od o* t e *orest appened upon er, and asked er w at great magick s e knew in order to ave kept dry during t e storm( 3/* you s ow me t e secret to your magick, / will s ow you ow / kept dry(3 s e said( Being somew at easily tempted )y a pretty *ace, &eles proceeded to teac er all o* is magickal secrets( >*ter e was done, s e told im ow s e ad removed er clot ing and id under a tree( Knowing t at e ad )een tricked, )ut ad no one )ut imsel* to )lame, &eles ran o** in a rage, and t us, t e *irst &itc came into )eing(

Slavic "agan 6olidays

6ig lig ted olidays link to images( #ituals are in t e process o* )eing written( &inter Spring Summer >utumn

4in er
/ol*ada (/ohl-5AH-da) - "he 4in er Sols ice. Most agree t at t e word comes *rom t e #oman word 3calendae3 w ic meant t e *irst @B days o* any mont ( Some, owever, )elieve t e word is derived *rom t e word 3Kolo3 or w eel + muc

like t e word 3:ule3 is an >nglo+Sa<on word *or w eel( $ e oliday.s original name may ave )een 3!vsen3( $ e oliday was *illed wit revelry( "rocessions o* people masked like animals and cross+dressers roamed t e village( !*ten t ey were accompanied )y a 3goat3+ a goat.s ead, eit er real or 9usually2 made and stu**ed on a stick( $ e person olding t e 3goat3 would )e covered )y a )lanket to play t e part( Sometimes a c ild on orse)ack + sym)ol o* t e re)orn sun + would accompany t em1 t e orse was o*ten played )y two young men in orses costumes( !ne o* t e wenders would carry a spinning solar sym)ol, internally lit )y a candle, on a stick( Later, a*ter - ristianity entered t e scene, t e spinning 3sun3 )ecame a star( $ is unusual group would stop and sing Kol0ada songs *rom ouse to ouse( $ ese songs usually included invocations to 3Kol0ada3, t e god or goddess o* t e oliday, praises and good wis es,re7uests *or andouts and t reats *or re*usal( $ e andouts, also called 3kol0ada3, usually took t e *orm o* little pastries or 3korovki3 s aped like cows or goats( $ e were sometimes 0ust in t e s ape o* t e animals ead, )ut o*ten were descri)ed as aving 3 orns and tails and everyt ing(3 $ e korovki were traditionally )aked )y t e old people in t e ouse, t e grandmot ers and grand*at ers( $ e 3tricks3 played )y t ose w o were not rewarded could )e )rutal; 5ar)age mig t )e )roug t *rom all over t e village and piled in *ront o* t e o**ending ost.s gate, t eir gate mig t )e torn o** and t rown in t e nearest water or livestock could )e led o**( /n "oland one 3caroller3 would carry a )undle o* azel twigs and a*ter receing kol0ada, would gently it is ostHess wit a small stick loudly wis ing 3,a s c estia, na zdravia, na tot ,oviy #eek3 9 appiness, ealt , in t e coming ,ew :ear2( > small twig was le*t wit t e *armer w o nailed it a)ove is door *or wealt and protection( Bon*ires were sometimes lit and t e dead ancestors asked inside to warm t emselves( Mock *unerals were eld w ere a person pretending to )e dead was carried into t e ouse amidst )ot laug ter and wailing( Sometimes even a real corpse was used( !ne young girl would )e c osen and tradition made er kiss t e 3corpse3 on t e lips( /* a pretend corpse was used, t e person would leap up a*ter )eing kissed + a sym)ol o* re)irt ( 6oliday *oods included kut.ia, a traditional *uneral *ood consisting o* w ole grains and pork( $ e w ole grain is a universal sym)ol + 3t e seed as t e mysterious container o* new li*e3 9C > "ropp p(F2 !n t e last day o* t e kol0ada season in "oland, all t e unmarried men o* t e village would get toget er to 3wend3 *or oats( /t was impossi)le to get rid o* t em wit a scoop o* oats1 it took at least I liters( $ e *armer would keep a s arp eye on is grain t at nig t, )ecause ot erwise t e carollers would steal it as part o* t e evening.s custom( &it t e money *rom t e sold oats t e men would ire musicians and organize a large dance party in t e village during t e pre+Spring *estival period( /* you don.t give us a tart + &e.ll take your cow )y t e orns( /* you don.t give us a sausage + &e.ll gra) your pig )y t e ead( /* you don.t give us a )liny + &e.ll give t e ost a kick( + #eeder, p(FK

Ne& 5ear>s #ay + originally on t e &inter Solstice, ,ew years was considered t e most power*ul time *or divination( > traditional ,ew :ear.s divination was called pod)l0una0a 9powd+)lyew+,/E+ ya2 or 3under t e plate3( Details o* t is divinatory system may )e *ound on t e Slavic Magick page( "ork was traditionally eaten at t is time(

S2ring
S rinennia - 0ar ? h. -lay images o* larks were made, t eir eads smeared wit oney and stuck wit tinsel( $ ey were carried around t e village amidst t e singing o* vesn0anki, invocations to Spring( Birds were t oug t to )ring t e Spring wit t em upon t eir return( - ildren were given pastries s aped like )irds to toss into t e air w ile saying 3$ e rooks ave come(3( Sometimes t e pastries were tied to poles in t e garden( $ e )aking o* t ese pastries was to ensure t at t e )irds would return( ! little )ee, >rdent )eeL Fly out )eyond t e sea( 5et out t e keys, t e golden keys( Lock up winter, cold winter 8nlock summer, warm summer( &arm summer + > summer *ertile in grain( + #eeder, p J? 0aslenica (0ah-s&eh-N!!"-sa) 3Butter woman3 *rom t e word Maslo w ic means )utter( !riginally it was practiced at t e %ernal E7uino< )ut later was cele)rated t e week )e*ore lent( Maslenica 9ma +swe +,EE$+sa2, sometimes called S rovetide, was a cele)ration o* t e returning lig t, a time o* games and contests, especially orse racing, *ist *ig ts, sliding and mock )attles( /t was a time *or protection and puri*ication rituals and a time o* gluttony, o)scenity and dissolution( >t t e )eginning o* t e *estivities a li*e+sized corn doll would )e made as a personi*ication o* t e oliday( $ e doll would )e invoked and welcomed )y t e name Maslenica( Sometimes a drunken peasant was c osen, instead, to represent Maslenica( 6e would eit er )e dressed in woman.s clot ing or in a costume sewn all over wit )ells( 6is *ace would )e smeared wit soot and e would )e seated on a w eel resting on a pole wit in a sledge( &ine and pastries would surround im and as many as could would accompany im in ot er sledges( -rowds would *ollow on *oot, laug ing, dancing and singing ritualsongs( -orn 3Maslenitsas3 were also driven around in )arrows, wagons or sleig s accompanied )y crowds o* cele)rants( Many customs onoring t e sun were included in t e *estivities suc as t e lig ting o* )on*ires, pus ing a w eel w ose a<el pole was a *laming torc a)out or circling t e village on orse)ack wit torc es( Farmsteads were also circled at t is time, eit er wit a religious icon or wit )rooms, sweeping around t e entire property t ree times to create a magickal circle w ic protected against illness and evil spirits( $raditionally, t e ouse and )arn were cleaned and decorated and oliday *oods suc as )liny 9pancakes2, kulic 9sweet )read2 and pask a 9pyramid s aped cottage+c eese )read2 were prepared( Special loaves were )aked and *ed to t e cattle to guard t em *rom unclean spirits( Kozuli, pastries s aped like cattle, goats, etc( were prepared and eaten to )ring on t e multiplication o* t e erds( Eggs were decorated and rolled along t e ground in order to trans*er t e *ertility o* t e egg to t e eart ( $ e customary 3swinging3 w ic occured at t is time was )elieved to strengt en t e stock and *ertility o* t e villagers as well( Maslenitsa was considered to )e a time *or puri*ication( >ll salt was prepared *or t e coming year, as salt was used *or cleansing and curative purposes( #itual )at s to prepare *or t e oncoming work in t e *ields were also taken )e*ore sunrise and *ollowed wit *umigation in t e smoke o* t e 0uniper(

>not er important part o* Slavic ritual is t e *uneral meal( > uge *east was prepared and )roug t to t e cemetary w ere it was eaten amidst muc wailing and laug ter( Food was always le*t *or t e dead( /n Eastern European ritual, *uneral and *ertility rites are intertwined( %olos, a god o* t e erds, is )elieved )y many to )e t e same god as %eles, an underworld deity( >t t e end o* t e week t e Maslenitsa 9i* a doll was used2 was taken to a *ield outside t e village, usually w ere t e winter crops were planted( $ ere it was destroyed, eit er )y )eing torn apart and t rown into t e *ield or )urned( $ is was t e remnant o* an earlier cult o* a dying and resurected 5od, %olos per aps, w ose deat )roug t li*e to t e *ields( $ e 35od3 was always destroyed wit laug ter as suc a 3deat 3 was seen to )ring li*e( Smaller dolls were also made *or individual ouse olds w ic were also torn apart at t e week.s end and *ed to t e livestock( $ is was )elieved to ensure t eir *ertility and t e customary willow )ranc t ey were *ed was t oug t to protect t em *or t e entire year to come( !ur Dear Maslenica, dear, leli, dear -ame *or a w ile, *or a w ile, leli, *or a w ile &e t oug t *or seven weeks, seven weeks, leli, seven weeks But Maslenica stayed only seven days, seven days, leli, seven days >nd Maslenica deceived us, deceived us, leli, deceived us $o lent s e o**ered a seat, o**ered a seat, leli, o**ered a seat Bitter orseradis s e put out, put out, leli, put out >nd t at orseradis is more )itter t an <ren, more )itter t an <ren, leli, more )itter t an <ren( 9$raditional Maslenica song + 'emcovski0 + <ren is a *orm o* orseradis also2 /t is interesting to note t at in t is song, t e singer laments t at e is )etrayed )y Maslenica )ecause s e gives up er seat to Lent and gives im )itter t ings 9to eat2( /n t e Slavic traditions, $ e periods directly )e*ore and a*ter Easter were *illed wit customs, rituals and cele)rations alt oug Easter itsel* came and went wit out muc ado( $ is is supposedly due to t e !rt odo< "riest.s success*ul e**orts to keep t e day o* Easter, itsel* *ree o* pagan in*luence($ e oliday o* Maslenitsa lasted a week and marked t e )eginning o* t e Slavic Spring Festivals w ic continue t roug to t e Summer Solstice, Kupalo( /rasna*a Gorka + 3)eauti*ul3 or 3red3 illock + t e Sunday a*ter Easter( /n #ussia, a woman olding a red egg and round loa* o* )read would *ace East and sing a spring song w ic t e c orus t en took up( >*terward, a doll representing Marzena, grandmot er &inter, was carried to t e edge o* t e village and t rown out or destroyed( Porovods, #ussian circle dances, started on t is day as well as were Spring game songs1 > *emale per*ormer would enter t e center o* a circle and mime t e sowing, pulling, spreading, etc((o* t e *la< all t e way up to t e spinning( S e and all t ose in t e circle would sing; $urn out well, turn out well, my *la<( $urn out well, my w ite *la<( N $ is is a *orm o* sympat etic magic to ensure a )ounti*ul *la< arvest( 9N + #eeder + #ussian Folk lyrics2 +ad,nica - (+ah-doo-N!!"-sa) $ e second $uesday a*ter Easter( $ is oliday was originally known as ,av Dien 9Day o* t e Dead2 and was a )i+annual oliday to cele)rate t e ancestors( $ e original dates o* t ese two olidays were pro)a)ly May eve and ,ovem)er eve + cross+ 7uarter dates( 8sually *easting and cele)rating occured in t e cemetaries among muc ritual wailing( !**erings, o*ten o* eggs, were le*t to t e dead(

Ascension - @A days a= er !as er( $ is oliday may ave originally *allen on May eve and )een tied in wit t e oliday o* ,av Dien( !n t is day, lark pastries were again )aked( >*ter supper, all would rest a w ile and t en take t eir lark pastries into t e rye *ields( > prayer would )e o**ered at eac side o* t e *ield w ile t e larks were tossed into t e air and people cried 3So t at my rye may grow as ig 3( $ e larks were t en eaten( %illage girls customarily imitated t e spring )ird.s song( Songs were sung on opposite ends o* t e village wit one c orus answering t e ot er( & en *inis ed, anot er song would )egin in t e distance and in t is *as ion t e songs would travel *rom village to village( S . !gori* (George) #ay - A2ril BC + 5eorge is 5reek *or 3*armer3( $ e *irst day t e *locks are taken to t e *ields( $ ey were driven out using pussy willows t at ad )een )lessed on "alm Sunday( $ e energy o* t e willow was t oug t to )e trans*erred to t e animal, or person, )eing w ipped )y it( >ccording to an old song1 $ e pussy willow as )roug t ealt $ e pussy willow w ip )eats you to tears $ e pussy willow does not )eat in vain( "eople walk around t e *ields singing invocations to Egori0 )egging im to protect t e *lock *rom wild animals in t e *ields and )eyond t em( $ ese invocations pro)a)ly originated as prayers to t e god &eles, ruler o* orned animals, wealt and t e underworld( >*ter t e *locks le*t, t e entire village would gat er toget er *or one solemn moment( Some o* t e pussy willows were t en stuck in t e rye *ields to give t em strengt , ot ers were )roug t ome to ensure t e *lock.s return( St( Egori0 is a oliday predominated )y men( !ne ritual *or t is day consisted o* t e old village men going down to t e river and gat ering a stone *or every animal in t eir *amily.s *lock( $ ey would t en put t em in a )ag and ang t e )ag in t e courtyard saying $sar o* t e *ields, $sarina o* t e *ields, $sar o* t e *orest, $sarina o* t e *orest, $sar o* t e water, $sarina o* t e water, "rotect my *locks, *rom t e evil eye, From wicked people, *rom wild )easts, >nd *rom all ot ers( !n t e eve o* t is oliday, young )oys and men do a *orm o* trick+or+treating )y singing *rom ouse to ouse *or *ood and )estowing )lessings upon t ose w o are generous and curses upon t ose w o are not( $ is door+to+door singing was called 3$ e La)or o* St( 5eorge(3 -ows, give )irt to calves( "igs, give )irt to sucklings( #oosters, stamp your *eet( 6ens, atc c ickens( 6ostes )e good to us( 6ost, don.t )e stingy( /* t e ost and ostess were generous, t e singers would usually wis *or t e osts and *or t emselves ?BB cows and @KB )ulls eac ( /* t e ost was stingy, e mig t ear; ,eit er a *arm, nor a courtyard ,ot any c icken *eat ers May 5od grant you cockroac es and )ed)ugs +,sal>naia 4eek - (+oo-sahl-NI!-ya) originally 0ust a*ter May eve, t is oliday was later

cele)rated on t e It or Ft week a*ter Easter( $ e oliday was possi)ly named a*ter t e #oman oliday #osalia( During t is week t e #usalki, *emale water spirits, were said to leave t e rivers and go to t e *orests and *ields( Birc es were considered a source o* vegetative power and omes were decorated wit )irc )ranc es, )ot inside and out( !n t e &ednesday o* t is week, girls would go into t e *orests and c oose and mark t e )irc es( $ e *ollowing day, Semik, )ringing *ried eggs 9omelettes2 = )eer, t ey would decorate t e c osen trees wit *lowers( !ne special )irc would )e c osed and 3curled3( $ at is, t e ends o* t e twigs would )e knotted and twisted to *orm wreat s( $ e *ried eggs would )e placed around it w ile Semicka0as 9songs sung only at Semik2 were sung( $ en t e kumit.s0a ceremony would )e eld; $ e girls would kiss eac ot er t roug wreat s on t e )irc tree and swear an oat o* *riends ip( $ is spell was )elieved to ensure t at t ey would )e *riends *or li*e or, 3kumas3( $ is tree was sometimes le*t in t e *orest, and sometimes cut down and )roug t into t e village( ,o males were allowed to touc t e tree( $ e tree mig t )e dressed in woman.s clot ing andHor stripped o* its lower )ranc es( Sometimes t is tree was set up in a ome as a guest( /* le*t in t e *orest, its tip mig t )e )ent down and tied to t e grass, ensuring t at its sacred energy would return to t e eart ( 5irls would sing and dance t e <orovod around t e tree( Banis ings o* t e #usalki were per*ormed during #usal.naia( Dolls o* t em were made and ritually torn apart in t e grain *ields( !n t e Sunday o* t is week, girls would per*orm memorial rites on t e graves o* t eir parents and a*terward divide eggs among t eir *amily mem)ers( $ en t e sacred )irc tree was removed *rom t e village and tossed into a local river or stream( 5irls would take wreat s *rom t eir eads and toss t em in a*ter t e )irc ( /* t eir wreat *loated o**, love was to come *rom t e direction t e wreat *loated toward( /* t e wreat sunk, t e girl was supposed to die wit in t e *ollowing year( /* it circled, mis*ortune would come( /, a young girl, am going to t e 7uiet meadow, t e 7uiet meadow( $o t e 7uiet meadow, to a little )irc ( /, a young girl, will pick a )lue corn*lower, > little )lue corn*lower, a corn*lower( /, a young girl, will weave a wreat ( /, a young girl, will go to t e river( / will t row t e wreat down t e river( / will t ink a)out my sweet eart My wreat is drowning, drowning( My eart is ac ing, ac ing( My wreat will drown( My sweet eart will a)andon me( + #eeder, p(@B@ Se%ik - (Seh-0!!/) t e $ ursday o* #usal.naia &eek( $ is was t e day to per*orm *unerals *or all t ose w o ad not yet )een properly )uried( Semik songs 9Semik0as2; & ile selecting t e )irc ; Don.t re0oice oak trees( Don.t re0oice green ones( ,ot to you are t e girls coming( ,ot to you, t e pretty ones(

,ot to you are t ey )ringing pies, pastries, omelettes( :o, :o Semik and $rinityL #e0oice )irc esL #e0oice green onesL $o you t e girls are comingL $o you t ey are )ringing pies, pastries, omelettes( :o, yo Semik and $rininty( & ile curling t e )irc ; ! )irc , so curly, curly and young, 8nder you, little )irc , no poppy is )looming( 8nder you, little )irc , no *ire is )urning + ,o poppy is )looming + "retty maids are dancing a <orovod, a)out you little )irc , t ey are singing songs( #eturn to t e top o* t e page

S,%%er
/,2alo - ()oo-PAH-loh) + t e -ele)ration o* t e summer solstice( Kupalo comes *rom t e ver) kupati w ic means 3to )at e3 and mass )at s were taken on t e morning o* t is oliday( !n t is oliday, t e sun supposedly )at ed )y dipping into t e waters at t e orizon( $ is im)ued all water wit is power and t ere*ore, t ose w o )at ed on t is day would a)sor) some o* t at power( Fire was sacred to t e ancient Slavs and *ires were never allowed to go out( /n t e sanctuaries, *ires were tended )y t e priests and in t e ome, guarded )y t e mot er( !n t e eve o* Kupalo, owever, all *ires were e<tin7uis ed and rekindled wit 3new *ire3( ,ew *ire was created )y *riction( > peg was rotated wit in a ole in a )lock o* wood made especially *or t is purpose( /n some areas, animals were sacri*iced on Kupalo.s eve and a *east prepared o* t em entirely )y men was s ared as a communal meal( Bon*ires were lit and couples 0umped over t em( /t was considered a good omen and prediction o* marriage i* a young couple could 0ump t e *lame wit out letting go o* eac ot er.s and( -attle was c ased t roug t e *ires in order to ensure t eir *ertility( >t t e )eginning o* t e cele)ration, a straw image o* 3Kupalo3 was made o* straw, dressed like a woman and placed under a sacred tree( >t t e end o* t e *estival, t e e**igy was ritually destroyed )y )urning, 3drowning3 or )eing ripped apart( >*terward, ela)orate mock *unerals were eld( $wo people pretending to )e a priest and deacon would cense t e *igure, wit a mi<ture o* dung and old s oes )urning over coals in a clay pot( $ e *uneral was carried out among muc wailing and laug ter( Kupalo was considered t e most power*ul time to gat er )ot magical and medicinal plants( /t was considered t e only time to gat er t e magical *ire+*ern( !n Kupalo.s eve, t e *lower o* t e *ern was said to clim) up t e plant and )urst into )loom( >nyone w o o)tained it would gain magical powers including t e a)ility to *ind treasures( $o gat er t e er), one must draw a magic circle around t e plant and ignore t e taunts o* t e demons w o would try to *rig ten t em o**( Kupalo marked t e end o* t e 3Spring *estival3 period w ic started in t e )eginning o* Marc ( Per,n>s #ay - 7,ly BA h( !n t is day a uman sacri*ice was c osen )y )allot( $ ere is record o* a viking.s son )eing c osen and t e viking re*using to give im up( Bot *at er and son were killed as a result( $ is day was considered a 3$erri)le3 oliday( $ e sacri*ice was seen as necessary to placate t e 5od and keep im *rom destroying t e crops wit late summer storms(

>ccording to Dr( Bu ler in De Diis Samogitarum, t e prayer uttered )y t e o**iciating priest went as *ollows; "erkonsL Fat erL $ y c ildren lead t is *aultless victim to t y altar( Bestow, ! Fat er, t ey )lessing on t e ploug and on t e corn( May golden straw wit great well+*illed ears rise a)undantly as rus es( Drive away all )lack aily clouds to t e great moors, *orests, and large deserts, w ere t ey will not *rig ten mankind1 and give suns ine and rain, gentle *alling rain, in order t at t e crops may t riveL3 > )ull was also sacri*iced and it was eaten as a communal meal(

A, ,%n
S . Ilia>s #ay - A,g,s Bnd( /n t e 8kraine, t is day marked t e )eginning o* autumn( /t was said 38ntil dinner, it.s summer( >*ter dinner, it.s autumn(3 /lia is closely related to "erun and t is was most pro)a)ly one o* "erun.s oly days( >*ter t is day, no swimming was allowed as /lia will curse anyone e *inds swimming a*ter is *east day( 6arvest + 6arvest 6olidays occured anyw ere *rom >ug ? to t e autumn e7uino< and lasted *rom M days to a week( %arious rituals center around t e reaping and t res ing o* t e s eat s($ e 6arvest 6olidays o* t e Slavs were *ar more practical t an ritual( $ e songs sung at t is time are almost completely concerned wit t e work at and or praises *or t e ost and ostess or t e one w o )roug t t e cup( &ork parties called tolo.ka or pomoi. were *ormed and t ese travelled *rom *arm to *arm until all t e work was done( $ e ost was o)ligated to provide t e day.s *ood and entertainment( 5ablochnyi90edovoy S2as + or 3>ppleH6oney Saviour( $ is is a cross7uarter oliday )etween t e summer solstice and t e *all e7uino<( /t cele)rates t e wealt o* t e arvest w en *ruit and oney are ready to )e gat ered( $ e *irst *ruits and oney picked on t is day and t e )ee ives were )lessed( 6a'i,ki - on or aro,nd A,g D, mig t )e t e same oliday as Spas( "articular attention was paid to t e *irst s ea* 9zaz inoc nyi or zaz innyi2 w ic was usually )roug t into t e ouse and t res ed separately( Sometimes it was )lessed and t en mi<ed )ack in wit t e seed( $ e end o* t e arvest cele)ration was called Dozinki( $ e last s ea* 9t e doz inoc nyi orotz innyi2 was also )roug t in t e ouse w ere it was eit er decorated wit *lowers and ri))ons or dressed in woman.s clot ing( /t was t en placed in t e entrance corner o* t e ome or near any religious icons until !ct @, w en it was *ed to t e cattle( Sometimes t e last s ea* ceremony was merged wit t e ritual surrounding a small patc o* *ield t at was le*t uncut( $ e spirit o* t e arvest was said to precede t e reapers and ide in t e uncut grain( $ is small patc was re*erred to as t e 3)eard3 o* %olos, t e 5od o* animals and wealt ( $ e uncut s eaves o* w eat in 3%olos. )eard3 were decorated wit ri))ons and t e eads were )ent toward t e ground in a ritual called 3$ e curling o*t e )eard3( $ is was )elieved to send t e spirit o* t e arvest )ack to t e Eart ( Salt and )read, traditional sym)ols o* ospitality were le*t as o**erings to %olos. )eard(

0okosh #ay + Mokos was onored on t e Friday )etween !ct ?K and ,ov @( S e was given

o**erings o* vegeta)les( !ne re*erence *i<es t is date on !ct ?F(

Slavic +i ,al +eci2es

$raditionally, ritual li)ation would ave consisted o* mead( $ ere is currently a very good commercial "olis mead availa)le called 3"iast3( /t is produced and )ottled in "oland and imported )y >dam)a /mports, Brooklyn, ,: @@?AI($ is )rand o* mead is S! "agan t at t e )ack o* t e )ottle )oasts 3"iast, a Jt century "olis prince 7ua**ed is oney wine *rom t e orn o* a )ison, t e same way is *or)ears paid omage to t eir ancient god, Swiatowid(3 + t e strange t ing is t at(((a Jt century prince would ave )een %E#: "agan as "oland was not - ristianized until t e year JGG((((t e $E,$6 century( Blini Blini is not only a *ood appropriate *or ritual, it is a traditional *ood o**ered to t e dead( Scald ? cups milk( & en it as cooled somew at, stir in @ package yeast, @ $)sp sugar and @ @H? cups *lour( Let t is rise, covered, in a warm place *or @ our( )eat A egg yolks wit @tsp salt, @ $)sp melted )utter and @H? cup *lour( Stir t is into t e sponge( Beat A eggw ites until sti** and *old t em into t e )atter( -ook small pancakes in melted )utter( Serve wit sour cream and may)e some caviar( Pierogi $ ese little moon+s aped dumplings are per*ect *or during andHor a*ter any circle work( mi< @ egg, @ t)sp oil, a pinc o* salt and enoug *lour to make a good pasta doug ( #oll t is out t in 9)est to use a pasta maker2 and using a *loured, upturned glass, cut circles out o* t e doug ( "lace a small amount o* *illing in t e center o* t e circle and *old over, wetting t e edge to seal( Boil in salted water until tender( :ou may t en *ry t em in )utter wit sliced onions( Serve wit sour cream( "ierogi Fillings; Seasoned Mas ed potatoes Seasoned mas ed potatoes = sauer kraut Seasoned *armer.s c eese Finely c opped mus rooms sauteed wit onion 5round meat mi<ed wit @ raw egg = some dillweed( !t er #ecipes ,ot speci*ically magickal, )ut any Slavic ritual s ould )e *ollowed )y a good deal o* eating(((( Gl,%2ki + Stu**ed -a))age -ore ? or A eads o* ca))age and immerse eac one in )oiling water *or a)out K minutes eac ( "eel o** all t e larger leaves and cut out t e stalky parts at t e )ottoms( Set aside( Mi< toget er; @l) ground )ee*, @ l) ground pork, @ ? cups cooked long grain rice 9al dente2, @ large c opped onion, salt, pepper and a little oil( /n eac ca))age lea* place a)out ? $)sps o* t e meat mi<ture and roll up + *irst )ring in t e sides o* t e lea* t en roll( Do t is to all t e meat mi<ture( Line t e )ottom o* a large covered casserole wit some o* t e e<tra ca))age leaves( "lace t e ca))age )undles tig tly toget er in t e pot and cover wit a mi<ture o* @ large can crus ed

tomatoes and ? $)sp cider vinegar( :ou may want to add tomato 0uice to )e sure all t e ca))age )undles are kept wet during cooking( -over wit a layer o* e<tra ca))age leaves and eit er )ake *or @ r or cook atop t e stove *or KB minutes( 1a kas + "otato "ancakes "eel and grate @ l) o* russet potatoes( mi< wit one egg, @H? to cup *lower, salt, pepper and @ or ? c opped scallions( 6eat a mi<ture o* )utter and oil in a *rying pan( *ry t e )atter in small, *lattened amounts( $ e latkas s ould )e )rown and crispy( Serve wit sour cream( :ou can c eat )y using le*t over mas ed potatoes instead o* grated *res ones( /t still tastes pretty good( 0,shroo% /asha mi< @ cup kas a 9)uckw eat groats2 wit @ egg and @HA cup sliced, sauteed mus rooms( Stir+*ry in ? $)sp )utter till t e egg is cooked and )uckw eat is separated( >dd ? cups )oiling c icken )rot , salt = pepper and simmer, covered, *or ten minutes( Flu** wit *ork )e*ore serving(